On January 2, the Supreme Court of India criticized the Punjab government and certain farmer leaders for making irresponsible public statements regarding the indefinite fast by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized that the court never ordered to break Dallewal’s protest but only expressed concerns about his health, urging for urgent medical assistance.
The bench addressed Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh, highlighting that the issue was becoming increasingly sensitive due to misleading media reports suggesting the state was pressuring Dallewal to end his fast. Singh clarified that the state was not coercing Dallewal and attributed certain media messages to Dallewal himself.
The court stated that Dallewal could continue his protest even while receiving medical care, urging the state to approach him from this perspective. Singh assured the court of efforts to encourage Dallewal to accept medical help and for the agitating farmers to engage in dialogue with a court-appointed committee.
Justice Surya Kant acknowledged Dallewal’s importance as a farmer leader committed to the cause without any ideological alignment. The advocate general maintained the state’s neutrality, stating that their primary goal was to persuade Dallewal to accept medical aid as per the court’s order.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the state’s approach, Justice Surya Kant questioned why Punjab officials had not communicated the establishment of the committee aimed at resolving the issue. Singh denied any attempts to aggravate the situation.
The court requested affidavits from Punjab’s chief secretary and director general of police to confirm compliance with the December 20, 2024 order to relocate Dallewal to nearby medical facilities. The Supreme Court scheduled the next hearing for January 6, continuing to press the Punjab government for action.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/01/03/sc-reprimands-punjab-govt-for-irresponsible-media-statements/
Category : NATIONAL
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-01-03 03:52:00
