The Supreme Court of India has called on farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and his supporters to organize peaceful protests without disrupting public life, particularly on key highways like the Khanauri border, a vital link for Punjab. The court’s remarks came after Dallewal filed a habeas corpus plea alleging his forced removal from the protest site at the Punjab-Haryana border on November 26.
Authorities removed Dallewal, who had begun a fast-unto-death to press for farmers’ demands, from the site and later hospitalized him in Ludhiana. He resumed his protest on November 30 after they discharged him. Addressing his legal petition, a Supreme Court bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized that while protests are a constitutional right, they should not inconvenience the public. The bench suggested Dallewal persuade fellow farmers to protest within legal parameters and refrain from obstructing essential routes.
Farmers have been protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points since February, alleging that the government has failed to address their grievances. Their demands include a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, farm debt waivers, pensions for agricultural workers, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for families of farmers who died during earlier agitations in 2020-21.
The protests intensified after the Centre allegedly stopped engaging in discussions with the farmers post-February 18, sparking accusations of governmental inaction. The court, while acknowledging the validity of the farmers’ concerns, maintained that obstructing public movement is not acceptable in a democratic setup.
As the court dismissed Dallewal’s plea at this stage, it assured the protesters that their issues remain under judicial consideration. Meanwhile, farmer unions have reiterated their commitment to pressurize the government while maintaining a balance between their agitation and public convenience.
(By Ankita Singh, Web Team at C6N)
