The Supreme Court Tuesday said it wanted to set up a committee to understand the ground situation and solve the impasse between farmer unions and the central government over the three farm laws. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said those “genuinely” interested in finding a solution would appear before the committee.
The apex court is expected to Tuesday deliver its judgment on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the three farm laws that were enacted last September. During a hearing on the matter Monday, the apex court indicated that it could even stay the implementation of the new laws to ostensibly “facilitate” a solution.
Coming down harshly on the Centre, the bench, headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, Monday questioned the process behind the enactment of the farm laws and expressed deep “disappointment” over the government’s handling of the farm protests. It suggested the constitution of a committee that “will tell us if the laws are in public interest”.
In response, farmer unions thanked the top court, but turned down the idea of a committee to resolve the issue. They reiterated their demand for a repeal of the laws.
Meanwhile, the Centrefiled an affidavit in the Court detailing “two decades of deliberations” that went behind the framing of the laws. It underlined the “serious, sincere and constructive efforts” made by the government to engage with “the limited number” of farmers protesting the laws.
The Centre and farmer unions have engaged in eight rounds of talks so far, but failed to break the impasse. Their next meeting is scheduled on January 15. Farmers are planning to intensify their protests by entering the national capital in a tractor march on Republic Day.
In other news, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his deputy dushyant Chautala will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss the situation in the state. The meeting comes two days after farmers ransacked the venue of Khattar’s “kisan mahapanchayat” at a Karnal village. ( Indian Express )
