The Supreme Court of India has deferred its hearing related to the ongoing farmers’ protest until after March 19, following updates on continued negotiations between the Centre and the agitating farmers. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, who noted that a third round of discussions is scheduled for that date.
The protests, which have seen farmers demanding several changes including a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for crops, have led to multiple rounds of talks aimed at resolving the issues. The Court was informed that two ministers from the Punjab state government had participated in the discussions, indicating a high level of engagement.
During Friday’s session, the bench reviewed the efforts of a high-powered committee appointed by the apex court last September. The committee was established with the objective of facilitating a resolution to the farmers’ grievances. The justices acknowledged the committee’s work in providing a platform for the farmers to voice their concerns and received its interim report, which they have decided to keep confidential for the time being.
Additionally, the court set an honorarium for the committee’s chairman, Justice Nawab Singh, and other members, recognizing their ongoing contributions to this complex dialogue.
The background to the deferral includes several key developments. On January 22, the Supreme Court paused a plea for contempt action against Punjab government officials, acknowledging that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal was receiving medical treatment during his hunger strike without breaking his fast. This was in response to a January 15 request from the court to the Punjab government for an update on Dallewal’s health. Dallewal, a convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), began his indefinite hunger strike on November 26, 2024, and subsequently refused state-provided medical aid, leading to a deterioration in his health.
Farmers, primarily from the SKM and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been staging protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 of the previous year. Their march to Delhi was halted by security forces, leading to prolonged encampments at these locations.
