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Synopsis

The Supreme Court today has directed the Punjab government to ensure that medical aid is provided to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has decided to fast unto death.

"He needs to be healthy to protest..government would not like to invite blame that something happened to him.. even farmers should be concerned about his life..", Justice Surya Kant told the Punjab AG today.

On the court being informed that the farmers did not want to engage with high powered committee appointed by it, the top court has said, "Court's doors are always open for any suggestions by the farmers".

Earlier, on December 13, top court had issued an order mandating engagement of government authorities with farmers and protection of Dallewal’s well-being. The order underscored the farmers’ constitutional right to protest but called for peaceful demonstrations, in line with “Gandhian principles.” 

Dallewal’s hunger strike, which began on November 26, is part of a larger movement demanding the legalisation of MSP and broader agricultural reforms. Protesting farmers, under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been demonstrating at the Punjab-Haryana border since February.

Their blockade of major highways, including the Khanauri-Shambhu stretch, has caused significant disruptions to public movement and economic activities in the region

Recently, supreme court had asked Dallewal to ensure that the ongoing protest does not obstruct highways or cause inconvenience to the public at large. 

Notably, Dallewal had been allegedly illegally detained from the protest site at the Khanauri border, adjoining Delhi. He had planned to agitate and undertake a fast until his demand for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops was met.

However, he was admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana, after which he approached the Supreme Court, alleging that his hospital admission was forced and amounted to detention. 

In February this year, a plea was filed before the Supreme Court for a direction to the central government to consider farmers' reasonable demands, and free movements of public and transportation vehicles across border of the city of Delhi amid the ongoing farmers' protest in Punjab.

On March 13, Supreme Court had rejected a similar plea against the ongoing farmers protests at Shambhu and the Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana. The plea sought removal of blockades by farmers and issuance of guidelines so that it is not repeated.

Case Title: State of Haryana vs. Uday Pratap Singh