SC urges peaceful protests, asks Punjab farmers not to block highways: Dallewal should persuade others

New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu):The Supreme Court on Monday urged Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a hunger strike at the Khanauri border to press for farmers' demands, to encourage protesting farmers to avoid blocking highways and inconveniencing the public.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan disposed of a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Dallewal, who was removed from the Khanauri protest site on November 26.

"We understand he has been released and even persuaded a fellow protestor to end their hunger strike on Saturday," the Bench noted. It also mentioned that the issue raised by farmers has been acknowledged by the court and is being considered in a pending case.

In a democratic setup, peaceful protests are allowed, but they should not cause inconvenience to the public, the court said. "The Khanauri border is a lifeline for Punjab," the Bench added, while refraining from commenting on the legitimacy of the protest.

Justice Kant emphasized that Dallewal should encourage fellow protestors to organize peaceful demonstrations under the law without disturbing public order. The court stated that it was not entertaining Dallewal’s petition at this point, but he could approach the court again later.

Dallewal had been forcibly removed from the Khanauri border on November 26, hours before starting his hunger strike. He was taken to a hospital in Ludhiana but was discharged on Friday. His petition, challenging his alleged illegal detention by the Punjab Police, was filed on November 29. After his release, Dallewal resumed his hunger strike at the Khanauri border on November 30, continuing his demand for farmers' rights.

Farmers have been protesting at Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, after their march to Delhi was halted by security forces. They accuse the government of neglecting their demands, citing the lack of any talks since February 18.

Their demands include a legal guarantee for MSP, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm workers, farm debt waiver, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 agitation.