SC Urges Punjab authorities to Act on Farmers’ Leader’s Health Amid 20-Day Hunger Strike

In the matter related to farmers’ protest at the border between Punjab and Haryana, the Supreme Court asked Punjab authorities to swiftly tackle the health situation of farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. He is on fast-unto-death at the Khanauri-Shambhu border for 20 days. The Apex Court cautioned the state government that the entire state machinery would bear the blame if anything happened untoward to the farmer leader.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan also clarified that the farmers can directly place their demands before the court instead of making representation to the High



Powered Committee. The bench clarified that the court’s doors are always open to any suggestion or demand by farmers directly or through their authorized representatives.

Yesterday’s proceedings followed the Apex Court’s earlier order on the 13th of this month, which mandated engagement with farmers and protection of Dallewal’s well-being. It asked the Punjab government and a court-appointed high-powered committee to mediate and address the farmers’ grievances, including their demand for legal guarantees for minimum support price.