New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (December 18) said that the doors of the court are always open to any suggestion or demand by farmers and while expressing its concerns on the deteriorating health condition of Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is sitting on a fast-unto-death protest at the Khanauri border for over 20 days, directed the State of Punjab to ensure that medical aid is provided to him forthwith as per the advice of the doctor.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed this to the Punjab government after the Punjab Advocate General informed the court that efforts are going on to ensure requisite, immediate medical aid to Dallewal but he is refusing medical tests and as per the doctors, his hospitalisation or indoor admission to a facility would be in his interest.
There cannot be any leniency and State needs to do something: Apex Court
The bench told the Punjab Advocate General that the farmer leader may be carrying some sentiments and may be there is peer pressure also, but there cannot be any leniency and the State needs to do something.
“The State shall ensure that medical aid is provided forthwith as per doctor’s advice (to Dallewal),” the bench said.
Farmers have declined to interact with high-powered committee, apex court was informed
The bench was also informed by the Punjab Advocate General that the farmers have declined to interact with the five-member high-powered committee constituted by the top court under the retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge to amicably resolve the grievances of the protesting farmers. The Punjab Advocate General also suggested to the court that the protesting farmers be permitted to submit their demands directly to the court.
Doors of court are always open to any suggestion or demand by farmers: Apex Court
The bench said that the doors of the court are always open to any suggestion or demand by farmers directly or through their authorized representative.
“We clarify that court’s doors are always open to any suggestion/demand by farmers directly or through their authorized representative,” the bench said and added that farmers should not come under peer pressure.
Apex Court earlier directed to provide immediate medical aid to Dallewal
The bench, during the last hearing while expressing its concerns on Dallewal’s health, had directed the State to provide adequate, immediate medical aid to Dallewal without forcing him to break fast. It had further asked the representatives of the Punjab government and the Centre to immediately meet Dallewal and other farmer leaders to convince them that immediate concern is to provide medical aid to Dallewal. The bench had also asked the agitating farmers to follow the Gandhian way of protests and temporarily suspend it or shift from the highways.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the Haryana government against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the state government to remove barricades at the Shambhu border.
