Farmers’ protest: Supreme Court indicates setting up committee comprising farmers' unions, Centre
The court allowed the petitioners to include the farmer organisations which are striking to also be included as parties in the petition while posting the matter for hearing tomorrow.
FollowNew Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre on a plea that sought removal of the farmers blocking the roads at the Delhi borders.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday while observing that farmers issue "will soon become a national issue" said that it intends to set up a committee comprising representatives of farmers unions across India, government and other stakeholders to resolve the issues of protesting farmers.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde called the issue “important” And issued notice to the Centre and Delhi government. The court allowed the petitioners to include the farmer organisations which are striking to also be included as parties in the petition while posting the matter for hearing tomorrow.
The top court also granted permission to implement farmer organisations and posted the matter for hearing tomorrow.
During the hearing, the Bench told the Solicitor General that the government's negotiation is not working and "it's bound to fail again".
During the course of hearing, the Solicitor General assured the Court that the government will not do anything against the interest of farmers. He urged that a direction be made to the farmers organizations to sit with the government clause by clause, so that there can be a discussion or debate with an open mind.
At this juncture, the CJI remarked that the negotiations being done by the Government are not working.
He suggested that the talks will be successful only when both the sides are represented by such people who are actually willing to negotiate. The CJI therefore asked the SG to come up with the name of such an organization that is willing to negotiate. He also said to make sure that the authorities are willing to negotiate.
The petition of Rishabh Sharma said that commuters are facing hardships due to the road blockades and the gatherings might lead to an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases. He also sought directions to authorities to open the roads at Delhi's borders, shift the protesters to the allotted place and provide guidelines on social distancing and use of masks at the protest site in order to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The farmers are protesting against the recently enacted Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
