Today, the Punjab and Haryana High Court declined to expedite the hearing of a case concerning the ongoing farmers’ protest march to Delhi, a day after postponing the proceedings to February 29 [Uday Pratap Singh v Union of India].
On Wednesday morning, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Satya Pal Jain and Haryana Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan requested an urgent listing of the matter as the farmers had resumed their march to Delhi to demand a minimum support price (MSP) for various crops.
However, the division bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerjee declined to intervene urgently to halt the farmers’ movement towards the national capital.
ASG Jain confirmed that the oral mentioning was declined. However, he clarified that no application had been moved by the Union of India for urgent hearing of the matter.
Before the farmers’ protest march, two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed in the High Court on February 12. One PIL contested the limitations imposed by the Haryana government on the protesting farmers, while the other requested the Court’s assistance in upholding law and order in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
On February 13, the High Court issued notices to the Central government and the administrations of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi regarding the matter.
In previous hearings, the Court emphasized the importance of dialogue between the government and the protesting farmers.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the Centre sought time to apprise the Court about the outcome of the meetings held between farmer leaders and the union ministers.
According to news reports, the talks remained inconclusive. Resultantly, the farmers have resumed their march to Delhi.
The Indian Express reported that “several farmers were injured as the Haryana Police dropped tear gas shells at the Shambhu and Khanauri border on Wednesday afternoon”.
In recent developments, the Haryana government updated the Court yesterday, stating that sites have been designated across 18 districts for peaceful farmer demonstrations. The government emphasized that protestors can seek permission, with decisions made by the appropriate authority in compliance with the law.
Additionally, data provided by the Punjab Police to the Court disclosed that approximately 13,000 to 13,500 protestors are expected to assemble at the Shambhu border in District Patiala during daylight hours. This figure is anticipated to decrease to 11,000-11,500 during nighttime.
At the Khanauri border in District Sangrur, approximately 4,500-4,600 individuals are expected to gather during the day, decreasing to 3,700-3,900 during the night, along with tractor-trailers and other vehicles, as reported by the Punjab Police.
The Court was informed that directives have been given to police officers to ensure the maintenance of law and order at both the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
Additionally, the Punjab government stated that on February 15, directives were issued to senior police officers to prevent the movement of machinery such as JCBs towards Patiala and Sangrur districts. Round-the-clock checkpoints have been established on roads leading to these districts.
