Thu Jan 02 18:25:53 UTC 2025: **Supreme Court Questions Centre’s Stance on Farmers’ Demands**
NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court on Thursday pressed the Indian government to publicly acknowledge and address the concerns of farmers protesting for a legal guarantee on minimum support prices (MSP) for crops. The court questioned the government’s silence, asking why it couldn’t simply state its willingness to engage with farmers’ genuine grievances.
The court’s query came in response to a plea filed on behalf of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is currently on an indefinite hunger strike. The plea seeks the implementation of a 2021 proposal, which included the MSP guarantee, that was reportedly agreed upon before the repeal of contentious farm laws.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that various factors prevented a straightforward statement from the government, focusing instead on the health concerns of Mr. Dallewal. The court, however, urged against a confrontational approach, highlighting the existing high-powered committee tasked with addressing farmers’ issues. This committee, headed by a retired high court judge with agricultural expertise from Punjab and Haryana, is scheduled to meet with stakeholders on December 3.
The petitioner argued that the 2021 proposal constituted a government commitment and that the government should not renege on its promise. The court, while expressing confidence in the committee’s work, emphasized its inability to directly negotiate with farmers, leaving the decision on engagement to the government.
The Supreme Court issued notices to the government and the committee, requesting responses within 10 days. Mr. Dallewal’s hunger strike at the Punjab-Haryana border is part of ongoing protests by farmer groups, who have been camped at border points since February 2024.
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