New Delhi, Jan 29 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday took judicial notice of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal taking medical aid and expressing his desire to participate in the meeting with the Centre's representatives on February 14 in Chandigarh.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh adjourned the hearing on a plea seeking direction to the Centre for implementation of the proposal, including a legal guarantee of MSP on crops, made to the protesting farmers in 2021, after the farm laws were repealed.
Justice Surya Kant told the petitioner in-person Guninder Kaur Gill that Dallewal gave an interview in the media on January 28 where he says he was taking medical help and expressed his desire to participate in the scheduled meeting to be held on February 14, if his health permitted.
"He has also reposed faith in the apex court appointed committee and is hoping that some solution may come out of the scheduled meeting," he said. The court said it did not want to hear the matter till the meet took place in Chandigarh to avoid any confusion.
The bench posted the hearing after February 14.
Gill submitted the government in 2021 agreed to implement the proposal but now backtracked.
The bench asked the petitioner to have patience as it would pass order when required.
"Let them negotiate first," the bench said.
On January 22, the top court kept in abeyance a plea for contempt action against Punjab government officials after noting that Dallewal, on a hunger strike, was undergoing medical treatment without breaking his fast.
On January 2, while hearing the plea of Gill, the top court had asked the Centre why it can’t say that its doors were open and it would consider the genuine grievances of farmers protesting over various demands, including the legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops.
It had asked the Centre to respond to the fresh plea without issuing any formal notice.
"Why can't your client make a statement that it will consider the genuine demands and we are open to discuss the grievances of farmers, our doors are open? Why can't the Central government make a statement?" the bench had told the Centre.
The top court had also asked Gill to not adopt a confrontational approach as the court had constituted a high-powered committee headed by retired high court judge to deal with various such issues.
Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 to press the Centre to accept the farmers' various demands.
The farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024, after their march to Delhi was stopped by the security forces. PTI MNL AMK
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