Sat Dec 28 09:28:48 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Orders Punjab to Hospitalize Fasting Farmer Leader
**New Delhi, December 28, 2024** – The Supreme Court of India has issued a final ultimatum to the Punjab government to hospitalize farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since November 26th. The court gave the state until December 31st to comply, threatening unspecified action if they fail.
In a strongly worded rebuke during an unprecedented weekend hearing, Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia criticized the Punjab government for its inaction and for allowing the situation to escalate. The government claimed it is facing resistance from fellow protesters preventing Dallewal’s removal to a hospital for medical care. Dallewal himself reportedly refuses treatment, fearing it would undermine his protest demanding government guarantees on minimum support prices for crops.
The court deemed the actions of those preventing Dallewal’s hospitalization as potentially criminal, amounting to abetment to suicide. The Supreme Court permitted Punjab to seek assistance from the central government if necessary and expressed concern that Dallewal is under undue peer pressure. The court’s earlier orders for medical assistance to Dallewal have been repeatedly ignored, prompting the contempt petition. The hearing follows previous expressions of concern by the court regarding Dallewal’s deteriorating health.
First Piper 