INDIA. New Delhi: After hearing several petitions challenging the three farm laws passed by the Parliament and removal of protesting farmers from Delhi’s borders, The Supreme Court of India today stayed the implementation of three farms laws until further orders. The apex court also formed a committee to solve the ongoing Kisan Andolan between the protesting farmers and the central government so as to resolve the impasse. Sharad Arvind Bobde, the Chief Justice of India said,” We are forming a committee so that we have a clearer picture. We don’t want to hear arguments that farmers will not go to the committee. We are looking to solve the problem.”
He further added,” We are concerned about the validity of the laws and also about protecting the life and property of citizens affected by protests. We are trying to solve the problem in accordance with the powers we have. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation and make a committee.”
Committee formed
SC suggested a five-member committee formed with Harsimran Mann of Bhartiya Kisan Union, Ashok Gulati, an academician, and three others. This committee will be working for the SC for us and everyone who wants to solve the issue will have to go before this committee. It’s not there to pass an order or punish someone, it will only submit a report to the court,” CJI further added.
The apex court hoped that the farmers’ unions will cooperate with the committee on farm laws. The court further added, “The committee is part of the judicial process in this case. We are planning to suspend the laws but not indefinitely.”
“This is not politics. There is a difference between politics and judiciary and you will have to cooperate,” said SC to farmer unions.
Pulling up the Centre for its handling of the farmers’ protest, the apex court, earlier on Monday has expressed its extreme disappointment with the way negotiations between them were going.
Proposed tractor rally by protesting farmers on Republic Day
The court expressed a warning to the protestors in response to the Delhi Police’s application filed seeking to stop the proposed tractor rally by protesting farmers on Republic Day.
Read Also: Watch: Indian Farmers Protesting Held Tractor March At Delhi Borders
Absence of senior advocates
Surprisingly, senior advocates Dushyant Dave, HS Phoolka, Prashant Bhusan, Colin Gonsalves, who represent 400 farmers’ bodies involved in the Kisan Andolan were not present during the Supreme Court’s proceedings on Tuesday as they were away to consult the farmers on the formation of a committee.
Background on SC decision
Hundreds of agitating farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping on Delhi’s borders since 26 November to protest against the three reforms — the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
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