What is apex court's advice to Punjab, Haryana on govt-farmer trust deficit?

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed to form a committee to address the ongoing issues between farmers and the governments of Punjab and Haryana. The court highlighted 'trust issue' between the two sides, emphasizing the need for neutral mediators to facilitate discussions. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a petition filed by the Haryana government.

The petition challenged a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that directed Haryana to unblock the Shambhu border. This border had been closed in February to prevent protesting farmers from Punjab from entering Haryana.

Supreme Court's concerns

During the hearing, the bench questioned whether any efforts had been made to negotiate with the farmers. Justice Surya Kant said, "Have you taken any initiative to negotiate with the farmers? Your ministers might go to the farmers without realizing the local issues. There is a trust deficit. Why don't you have some neutral umpires? There have to be confidence-building measures."

The court scheduled the next hearing for the following week and directed both states to maintain the status quo at the protest site. It also asked the states to propose a plan to remove the barricades at the Shambhu border to avoid inconvenience to the public.

Who is possibly suitable for committee?

The Supreme Court suggested that Punjab and Haryana should propose suitable individuals to be part of the committee. These individuals would serve as neutral umpires to help bridge the trust gap and facilitate productive discussions between the farmers and the governments.

Farmers using armored tanks

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that over 500-600 vehicles, modified to resemble armored tanks, were stationed at the protest site. He expressed concerns about potential law and order issues if these vehicles were allowed to travel to Delhi. The bench responded by urging the government to make efforts to engage with the farmers directly.

Justice Surya Kant emphasized, "It is a case of trust deficit. We will think of some independent persons who are neutral to the controversy."

Blockade on borders

When the Solicitor General pressed for a stay on the High Court order to open the border, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan countered, "You also cannot block the highway. It's been over a year." Mehta argued that as a welfare state, the government could not afford any untoward incidents. He cited the presence of armored vehicles as a significant concern.

Justice Bhuyan responded, "They will have to stay somewhere." Mehta continued to stress the potential impact of these modified vehicles, likening them to military equipment. Justice Surya Kant reiterated, "Mr Solicitor, what you are arguing also shows the trust deficit."

What are farmers' demands?

The farmers are planning to march towards the Shambhu border to protest for their demands, which include a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for certain crops. The Supreme Court's intervention aims to create a pathway for dialogue and resolution, addressing the underlying trust issues between the farmers and the governments.