3 farm laws put on hold by Supreme Court, committee formed for negotiations

Farmers protest at Delhi border.

As farmer's agitation against three newly enacted farm laws entered the 48th day on Tuesday, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of three farms laws until further orders and formed a committee for negotiations to end the protests.

"We are concerned about the validity of the laws and also about protecting life and property of citizens affected by the protests. We are trying to solve the problem in accordance with the powers we have. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation and make a committee, Chief Justice SA Bobde said.

"We are forming a committee so that we have a clearer picture. We don't want to hear arguments that farmers will not go to the committee. We are looking to solve the problem. If you (farmers) want to agitate indefinitely, you can do so. This committee will be for us. It will not pass an order or punish you, it will only submit a report to us," the CJI added.

Chief Justice Bobde said the committee is part of the judicial process in this case. "We are planning to suspend the laws, but not indefinitely," he said.

The Chief Justice mentioned the names of agriculture economist Ashok Gulati, Dr. Pramod Kumar Joshi, Anil Dhanawat and B.S. Mann to be on the committee to hear the farmers' issues regarding the laws.

Advocate ML Sharma, representing the farmers, said the farmers are saying many persons came for discussions, but the main person, the Prime Minister did not come.

"We cannot ask the Prime Minister anything, he is not a party in the case. This is not politics. There is a difference between politics and judiciary and you will have to cooperate," said the Chief Justice.

Senior advocates Dushyant Dave, HS Phoolka and Colin Gonsalves, who represent 400 farmers' bodies, did not join the proceedings. "They were supposed to consult the farmers on formation of a committee and come back today," said senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for one of the petitioners.

Salve said staying implementation of the laws should not be seen as a political victory. "It should be seen as a serious examination of concerns expressed over the legislations," he added.

The top court also issued notice to farmers' unions on a Delhi Police plea to stop a tractor rally during the January 26 Republic Day parade.

All India Kisan Sabha General Secretary Hannan Mollah told IANS on Tuesday that the farmer organisations respect the Supreme Court but they are unwilling to go before any committee which may be appointed by the apex court.

He clearly said, "These acts are not in favour of farmers, so we are demanding to repeal it."

On the suggestions of the Supreme Court to stay and appoint a committee to look into the matter, he said, "The government will not discuss the issue of repealing the laws as seen during eight rounds of talks.

"The government wants to linger the matter. We are not in favour of putting the implementation of new farm laws on hold, we want them to be repealed," said Hannan Mollah.

He also said that farmers have no intention to disrupt the functions on the Republic Day as they will take out kisan parade across the country on January 26 after the main function completes.

Hannan Mollah said, "The demonstrations against these three farm laws and the demand for repealing them will continue at the district headquarters across the country till January 20. After that a three-day programme of demonstrations will start on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti on January 23 and it will continue for two days.

A farmer leader from Punjab and General Secretary of Bharatiya kisan union (Lakhowal) Harinder Singh told IANS that farmers are going to burn the copies of the three farm laws on the auspicious occasion of Lohri in a move to intensify stir against these laws.

He said, "Farmer's agitation will continue till the government is ready to withdraw these laws. Thousands of farmers have been demonstrating here at the bordering points of the national capital since November 23, 2020. They are demanding the repealing of the new laws enacted by the Centre last year and framing a new law which will give legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) of crops to the farmers."