Supreme Court sets December 31 deadline for Punjab govt to persuade Jagjit Singh Dallewal to end fast

Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast at the Khanauri border since November 26.

Published on: Dec 28, 2024, 15:17:40 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered the Punjab government to persuade farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal to shift to a hospital by December 31. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia pulled up the AAP-led government for allowing the situation to escalate.

Police officials meet farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal who is fasting unto death. (ANI file photo)

Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast at the Khanauri border since November 26 to press the Centre to accept farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support prices for crops.

The Punjab government expressed helplessness today before the bench, claiming it has faced huge resistance from protesting farmers. It said the farmers had encircled Dallewal, preventing the authorities from taking him to a hospital.

Dallwal not ready to end fast

Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh told the bench that a team of experts visited the protest site and tried to persuade Dallewal to shift to the hospital and get medical help but he refused.

He said Dallewal told the government that taking medical help would undermine the movement.

"He (Dallewal) has refused any kind of medical aid, including (IV) drips, saying that it will undermine the cause of movement," he said.

Reacting to the submission, the bench slammed the Punjab government for not doing enough to contain the situation and said the farmer leaders who were not allowing Dallewal to be taken to the hospital were involved in the criminal offence of abetment to suicide.

The top court allowed the Punjab government to seek any kind of logistics support from the Centre if the situation warrants.

Also read: SC raps Punjab, questions law-and-order breakdown over farmer leader’s health

The court observed that Dallewal was under some kind of peer pressure and those preventing his shift to the hospital aren't his well-wishers.

"Are they interested in his life or something else? We don't want to say much and only hope that the Punjab government will comply with our directions," the bench added.

On Friday, the top court expressed concern over the condition of Dallewal and directed the Punjab government to ensure he is given medical assistance.

It had issued a notice to the Punjab government on a contempt petition against its chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP) for non-compliance with an order directing that medical aid be provided to Dallewal.

With inputs from PTI

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.