Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today emphasized the need for the government to address the trust deficit with farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border. During a hearing on the Shambhu border blockade, the court proposed the appointment of a “neutral umpire” to mediate and find a viable solution to the ongoing issues.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted the distrust farmers have towards government representatives. “You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending ministers from here and despite their best intentions, there is a trust deficit. They will think you are only talking about self-interest and ignoring local issues. Why don’t you send a neutral umpire?” the bench advised.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Haryana government, acknowledged the state’s willingness to allow farmers’ marches to Delhi. However, he expressed concerns over the use of tanks and excavators, which he argued could lead to friction. “Coming with tanks, JCBs (excavators) causes friction. Earlier, it was on the pretext of farm laws,” he said, referencing the 2020-21 protests that led to the repeal of three farm laws.
The Haryana government has challenged a high court order mandating the removal of barricades at the Shambhu border within a week. These barricades were installed in February following announcements of a farmers’ march to Delhi, which included demands for a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The blockade led to clashes between protesters and security personnel.
The Supreme Court underscored that highways cannot remain blocked indefinitely. The Solicitor General requested a pause on the high court’s directive to remove the barricades, citing safety concerns and legal prohibitions under the Motor Vehicles Act. He described the situation as a potential threat, with JCBs being converted into “virtual war tanks.”
Punjab’s Attorney General Gurminder Singh highlighted the significant economic impact of the blockade on the state. In response, the Supreme Court proposed forming a committee to facilitate dialogue between the farmers, Haryana government, and the Centre. This committee would aim to gather and communicate viewpoints, and seek fair solutions to the farmers’ demands.
“We do not want a fight between Punjab and Haryana,” the court stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and consensus.
The court’s order included a directive for relevant parties to provide appropriate instructions within a week and maintain the status quo to prevent any escalation. Additionally, both states were instructed to discuss and implement phased removal of barricades to minimize public inconvenience.
