Supreme Court Forms High-Power Committee to Address Farmers' Protests

The Supreme Court has formed a high-power committee to address farmers' concerns at the Shambhu border near Ambala. The committee is instructed to engage with farmers and request the removal of their vehicles to alleviate public inconvenience.

The Supreme Court on Monday emphasized that the ongoing farmers' protest should not become a political issue and announced the formation of a high-power committee to address the concerns of the protesting farmers at the Shambhu border near Ambala. The farmers have been stationed at the site since February 13.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that the five-member committee would be led by Justice Nawab Singh, a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court directed the committee to convene its initial meeting with the farmers within a week.

The apex court asked the committee to engage with the farmers and request the removal of their tractors and trolleys from the Shambhu border on the National Highway to provide relief to the general public. It noted that a significant portion of the agricultural communities in Punjab and Haryana belong to marginalized communities who live below the poverty line and require empathy.

'The high-powered committee should reach out and persuade the agitating farmers to remove their tractors. We hope the farmers will cooperate and relocate their vehicles from the border, providing substantial relief to the general public,' stated the bench. The Supreme Court added that the protest could be relocated to an alternate site.

The court further instructed the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of both states to assist the committee and coordinate with its Chairperson. Previously, the Supreme Court had asked both states to submit names of individuals to be included in the committee for negotiating with the protesters and the governments.

The Supreme Court was addressing an appeal against the July 10 Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which directed the opening of the highway and removal of barricades within seven days. Earlier in February, the Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway after farmers announced a march to Delhi to demand a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)