The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of the three contentious farm laws and indicated that it will set up a committee to address the farmers’ grievances. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had said that the committee will be a part of judicial proceedings. The members of the committee will be president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union Bhupinder Singh Maan; international policy head Dr Pramod KumarJoshi; agricultural economist Ashok Gulati and president of the Shivkeri Sangathna Anil Dhanvat.
The bench comprising CJI SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said that the court was looking to solve the farmers' problem. "We are looking to solve the problem. If you want to agitate indefinitely, you can. Every person who is genuinely interested in solving the problem is expected to go before the Committee. The Committee will not punish you or pass any orders. It will submit a report to us. We are going to take the opinion of the organizations. We are forming the Committee so that we have a clearer picture," Live Law quoted CJI SA Bobde as saying.
The court's observation comes in the wake of protesting farmer unions unwilling to negotiate with the committee proposed to be constituted by the apex court. On Monday evening, the Samyuktha Kisan Morcha issued a statement and said it would not participate in negotiations before the committee if appointed by the SC.
Chief Justice Bobde said that a legislation cannot be suspended by the court without a purpose. "We will pass an interim order saying no farmers land can be sold for contract farming," CJI Bobde said, while adding, "We are concerned about only the validity of the laws and also about protecting the life and property of citizens affected by protests. We are trying to solve the problem in accordance with the powers we have. We have the power to suspend the legislation. But the suspension of legislation must not be for an empty purpose. We will form a Committee which will submit a report to us," Live Law quoted CJI Bobde.
Before pronouncing the order, the bench urged the farmers' unions to cooperate and go before the committee to be appointed by it to resolve the dispute. "We are concerned about protecting the lives and property of citizens of India and we want to solve the problem," the bench said.
The court added that no power can prevent it from forming a committee to resolve the impasse on new farm laws. It reiterated the apex court has powers to suspend the legislation in order to solve the problem.
The bench said those who "genuinely want resolution, will go to the committee" on farm laws, asking farmers to cooperate with it. "This is not politics. There is a difference between politics and judiciary and you will have to cooperate", it said to farmer unions.
Meanwhile, Attorney General KK Venugopal told the court, "Khalistanis have joined the farmer protests at the Delhi border." The Chief Justice asked him to submit an official affidavit on Wednesday putting the same on record. The AG said he will be attaching the reports of the intelligence bureau in the affidavit.
On Monday, the apex court had pulled up the Centre for its handling of the farmers protest against the new farm laws saying it is extremely disappointed with the way negotiations between them were going and it will constitute a committee headed by a former Chief Justice of India to resolve the impasse.