NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday granted Punjab government three more days to implement the direction to hospitalise farmer representative Jagjit Singh Dallewal, on fast-on- to-death for more than a month, but did not take cognisance of the state’s attempt to involve the Centre in breaking the impasse.
Punjab AG Gurminder Singh informed a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia that the intervenors had gone to the protest site and met the farmer leaders and representatives.”As per the intervenors, Dallewal is agreeing to take medical help if the Centre invites the farmers for talks on MSP,” he said. The Justice Kant-led bench said, “Punjab government is seeking three days more to implement the court’s (December 20) order and achieve the desired results. Taking into consideration the totality of circumstances and in the interest of justice, we are inclined to accept the request for grant of three days more time.”
SC all but snubs Punjab ‘plea’ to involve Centre
The bench posted the matter for further hearing on January 2. Punjab AG told the court that the state has deployed 7,000 security personnel near the ports site but a Punjab bandh called by another farmer union had completely hindered traffic. “We are doing our best to achieve the desired result,” he said.
The bench asked the state chief secretary and DGP to remain present virtually during the January 2 hearing of the contempt petition, which has accused the Bhagwant Singh Mann-headed AAP government of doing precious little to implement SC’s December 20 order.
In its application seeking more time to implement the order, the state government said, “On account of deliberations and outreach with farmer organisations made by Punjab govt, there have been certain positive developments in the matter which are under consideration of Centre. To allow fruition of positive developments, state government seeks additional three days for achieving the desired result.”
On the state’s assertion that Centre is considering “positive developments”, solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the bench that he had no instructions in this regard from Union govt. The bench said: “We are concerned only with implementation of our order. We can grant more time. We will not comment on the negotiation process.”
SC indicated that it would not take cognisance of the state’s indirect plea to involve Centre in negotiations with farmers on MSP issue.
On Dallewal’s health, the Punjab government said, “Doctors present at Khanauri border are constantly monitoring the health of Dallewal and he is under constant supervision of the medical board and all necessary medical aid is being provided.”
On December 28, Punjab government had told the apex court that given the mobilisation of farmers, who have thrown a three-tier fortress like ring around fasting Dallewal, the state felt helpless in implementing the SC order for hospitalisation as use of force would lead to serious collateral damages.
SC had rebuked the state and warned it of constitutional consequences when it pleaded helplessness and said, “To save one life, we cannot lose more lives.”
