In a pivotal move on Monday, the Supreme Court established an expert committee to tackle and resolve the concerns of the farmers who have been protesting at the Shambhu border, situated between Punjab and Haryana. This newly constituted committee is charged with the responsibility of thoroughly investigating the farmers’ grievances and working towards a fair and amicable solution.
The formation of this committee represents a crucial step towards de-escalating tensions and fostering a collaborative effort to resolve the long-standing disputes affecting the region.
Supreme Court Appoints Committee to Address Farmers’ 200-Day Protest
The committee, chaired by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Nawab Singh, has been instructed to convene its first meeting within a week. This move by the Supreme Court comes in the wake of a significant event on the ground: just two days prior, farmers held a ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ at the Shambhu border, marking 200 days of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation.
This protest, which began on February 13, has seen the farmers maintaining a steadfast presence at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points following their march being intercepted by security forces. Their ongoing demands include a legal assurance for Minimum Support Prices (MSP), and the Supreme Court’s formation of this committee reflects an earnest effort to address these pressing concerns and facilitate a resolution.
The Supreme Court decided not to specify the exact terms and issues for the newly formed High Power Committee, opting instead to allow the panel the autonomy to define and outline the matters it will address. This approach is intended to provide the committee with the flexibility to determine the most relevant issues for consideration.
Supreme Court Appoints Panel, Urges Fair Review of Farmers’ Issues
The committee will be composed of a distinguished group of individuals: former Haryana Director General of Police BS Sandhu, agricultural analyst Devender Sharma, Professor Ranjit Singh Ghuman, agricultural expert Dr. Sukhpal Singh, and Professor Baldev Raj Kamboj, who will serve as a special invitee. Leading the committee will be Justice Nawab Singh, a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Supreme Court emphasised that the concerns raised by the farmers should be addressed without political interference and should be examined by the committee in a systematic, step-by-step approach. The Court also indicated that the farmers have the option to relocate their peaceful protests to different locations if they choose to do so.
Additionally, the Supreme Court instructed the committee to engage with the protesting farmers promptly with the goal of facilitating the removal of the highway blockade.
Supreme Court Urges Dialogue, Haryana Challenges Barrier Removal
The Haryana government has appealed to the Supreme Court, contesting a directive from the high court that mandated the removal of barricades installed at the Shambhu border near Ambala within a week. These barriers were put in place in February as a response to the farmers’ threats to proceed with a march towards Delhi.
