Shambhu border: Supreme Court intervention in farmers agitation; independent committee proposed

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has decided to intervene in the demands of the farmers camped in Shambhu on the Haryana-Punjab border in connection with the Delhi Chalo agitation. An independent committee will be set up to hear and address the demands of farmers, including legislation to fix minimum support prices for agricultural crops. The Union Government and the Governments of Punjab and Haryana have been directed to forward the names of those to be made members of the Committee. If not, the court will directly constitute the committee. A bench comprising justices Suryakant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan ordered that the status quo should continue at the Shambhu border for a week. The Punjab and Haryana governments should inform what can be done to remove the barricades and open the border for public transport.

On February 21, a young farmer, Shubhkaran Singh, was killed at the Khanauri border on the Punjab-Haryana border during the agitation. The Supreme Court was hearing the petition filed by the Haryana government against the action of the Punjab-Haryana High Court which ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. The High Court's suggestion to open the Shambhu border was also questioned. The matter will be considered after a week.

Deep trust deficit

The court observed that there is “deep trust deficit” between the central government, states and farmers. Centre and Punjab and Haryana governments should take the initiative to hold talks with the farmers. Then there will be no need for them to come to Delhi for agitation. Union ministers went to Chandigarh for talks but there was a loss of trust. Farmers think that governments are driven by vested interests. It is also complained that local issues are neglected.

Law and order problem

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta expressed concern that if farmers are allowed to come to Delhi with tractors and trolleys, there will be a law and order problem. It was pointed out that more than 700 trolleys have been modified in the manner of war-ready tanks. The court also observed that the Ambala-New Delhi National Highway cannot be closed indefinitely.