Supreme Court (ANI)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court ordered authorities on Monday to partially open the Shambhu border, where farmers have been protesting since February 13. The court instructed the chiefs of Punjab and Haryana, along with the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Patiala and Ambala districts, to meet within one week to facilitate the reopening of the highway.
The court observed that the highway is not a parking space and directed the Punjab government to persuade farmers to remove their tractors from the road.
A bench of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan has ordered the partial opening of the Shambhu border road. This will enable the safe passage of essential services, including ambulances, as well as vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, women, and girl students, in addition to local commuters who rely on this route for their daily needs.
The court commended the governments of both states for selecting neutral and impartial individuals to form a committee that will engage in discussions with the protesting farmers, marking a positive step towards resolving the issue.
"We will pass a brief order on the terms of the panel to be constituted for talking to protesting farmers at the Shambhu border," the bench said.
The Supreme Court asked the governments of Punjab and Haryana to propose neutral and impartial individuals to form an independent committee. This committee's purpose is to engage with farmers protesting at the Shambhu border and address their demands, including the legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their agricultural produce.
The Supreme Court was considering a petition filed by the Haryana government which challenged a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The High Court had ordered the Haryana government to dismantle the barricades at the Shambhu border within a week, and the Haryana government was seeking to overturn this decision.
In June, the Supreme Court noted a significant lack of trust between the farmers and the government. To bridge this gap, a three-judge bench led by Justice Surya Kant emphasized the need for an impartial mediator, or "neutral umpire", who could foster trust and facilitate constructive dialogue between the two parties.
A bench comprises of justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized the need for government action to build trust with farmers. The bench stated, "You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending ministers from here and despite their best intentions, there is a trust deficit."
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