A day after the Supreme Court criticized the Center for the farmers’ ongoing protests as the negotiations failed, a bank headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde on Thursday asked India’s attorney general whether the government can commit to the laws will not be implemented while the court is hearing the petitions.
The Center told the supreme court that if the implementation of the farm laws is postponed, farmers will not show up for negotiations. When the bank said that this is to allow for talks, the AG sought some time to return to this topic.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court tribunal made some important observations about the ongoing protests, the plight of Indian farmers, etc. The protesters, on the other hand, remained unfazed as the agitation against three farm laws remained unfazed.
Here’s how Thursday’s hearing unfolded:
> Farmers have the right to protest, but the protest has to be peaceful, the bank observed.
> The supreme court wants to facilitate more talks between farmers and the Center, he said.
> An impartial and independent panel is likely to be established. Aside from farmer and government representations, experts like P Sainath are likely to find a place on the committee.
> Meanwhile, the protest may continue, the bank said.
> Attorney General KK Venugopal said the large gathering at various Delhi border points increases the risks of Covid-19. “None of them (protesters) wear a mask. They sit together in large numbers. Covid-19 is a concern. They will visit villages and spread it there. Farmers cannot violate the fundamental rights of others, ”said the AG.
> The Punjab government has no objection to the Supreme Court’s suggestion that a group of people will act as a facilitator between the Center and the farmers, said P Chidambaram, who represented the Punjab government. It is up to the farmers and the Center to decide who will be the committee members, he said.
>Sitting in protest won’t help, CJI said
“Blocking Delhi can make the city’s people go hungry. Your (farmers) purpose can be fulfilled by talking. Simply sitting in protest will not help, ”said the CJI.
>Farmer supporter: CJI
“We are also Indians, we are familiar with the plight of farmers and we sympathize with their cause. You (farmers) just have to alter the way the protest progresses. We will make sure you can defend your case and that is why we are thinking of forming a committee, ”said the CJI.
> The CJI also asked the Attorney General if the government can commit that the agricultural laws will not be implemented while the court is hearing the petitions and that no executive action will be taken under the laws to facilitate negotiations.
> The AG said that if the implementation is postponed, the farmers will not agree to the negotiation. The bank said that the suggestion is to facilitate the negotiation and then the AG sought some time to return to this point.
Farmers are not a mob, the bank noted. “We are concerned about the plight of farmers and the way things are going,” CJI said. No judgment was issued on Thursday. The bank said it will order the delivery of notices to protesting farmers’ unions and give them freedom to approach the bank on vacation.
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