'It will become a national issue': SC mulls panel to end farmer-Centre deadlock

First Published Dec 16, 2020, 2:06 PM IST

Chief Justice of India SA Bobde tells Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the court intends to set up a committee comprising representatives of farmers' unions across India, government and other stakeholders "because this will soon become a national issue".

In a major intervention, the Supreme Court has said that it will form a committee to resolve the deadlock between Farmer Unions and the Central government.Chief Justice of India SA Bobde asked for all parties to sit together and decide the names for the committee members.Addressing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, CJI Bobde said: "Mr Mehta, we will tell you what we are planning to do. We will form a committee to resolve the dispute. It will have members of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Government of India and other farmer organizations. We will ask farmer organizations to be also a part of the committee, as it will soon become a national issue."
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The bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, observed that the talks so far had not yielded the desired results.The bench granted the petitioners permission to implead farmer organisations.The Supreme Court was hearing two petitions seeking removal of farmers protesting at the Delhi-NCR borders against the recently passed Farm Acts. The Bench remarked that the petitions though ill-conceived raise the issue of freedom of movementTushar Mehta told the court, "Their approach is either repeal the Farm Acts or don't repeal. Its either yes or no. Minister of agriculture, Minster of Home has discussed with them and they have turned their backs on us."
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