In a significant move, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Punjab government to provide immediate medical aid to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since November 26 at the Khanauri border. Expressing deep concern over Dallewal’s deteriorating health, the vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia emphasized the urgency of the situation.
The directive came during the hearing of a contempt petition against Punjab’s chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP) for failing to comply with previous orders concerning Dallewal’s health. Justice Dhulia remarked, “If there is a law and order situation, you have to deal with it with iron hands. Somebody’s life is at stake. You need to take it seriously.”
In response to the court’s directive, Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh reported that a delegation of eight cabinet ministers and the Punjab DGP visited the protest site on December 24 in an attempt to persuade Dallewal to accept hospital treatment. However, resistance from the farmers at the site thwarted these efforts. “We have provided everything on site. If there is physical jostling, we cannot take that risk,” Singh explained, indicating the complexities involved in the situation.
The court also queried whether the central government could assist, to which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta cautioned that such intervention could complicate matters further. He asserted, “Few people cannot keep him (Dallewal) hostage. One man’s life is in danger. The state government can take measures.”
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Dallewal had written a letter to the Prime Minister, indicating his willingness to cooperate with medical assistance only if there were dialogues concerning the farmers’ demands. These demands include a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops—a key issue that has fueled the prolonged farmer protests at various border points between Punjab and Haryana.
The apex court has ordered the Punjab government to file a compliance report by December 28, the next scheduled hearing, during which the chief secretary and the DGP must be virtually present. The ongoing situation echoes the historical protest of civil rights activist Irom Sharmila, whom the court referenced as having continued her protest under medical supervision for over a decade.
