Medical aid to Dallewal: Supreme Court takes Punjab govt to task

The Supreme Court on Friday, 27 December, expressed concern over the condition of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on an indefinite hunger strike, and directed the Punjab government to ensure he was given medical assistance.

A vacation bench of justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia 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 of an order directing medical aid to Dallewal.

"If there is a law and order situation, you have to deal with it with iron hands. Somebody's life is at stake. You need to take it seriously," the bench said.

The apex court directed the state government to file a compliance report by 28 December, when it would again hear the matter and ordered the Punjab chief secretary and the DGP to virtually remain present during the hearing.

During the hearing, Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh submitted that a delegation of eight cabinet ministers along with the Punjab DGP had visited the protest site to convince Dallewal to move to a hospital but the farmers resisted it.

"We have provided everything on site. If there is physical jostling, we cannot take that risk," he added.

The bench however responded, "We have serious doubts about those farmers, those who are not conscious and aware and concerned about his life."

Singh said the state government was "very earnestly" following up on the issue.

When the bench wondered if the Centre could offer assistance to the state government, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said its interference might lead to complications.

"Few people cannot keep him (Dallewal) hostage. One man's life is in danger. The state government can take measures," said Mehta.

The Punjab AG informed the bench that when the ministers' delegation went to meet Dallewal on 24 December 2024, he gave them a letter addressed to Prime Minister Modi.

"He says, if some dialogue is opened up, only then he is willing to cooperate with medical assistance," Singh said.

Mehta said Dallewal's admission in a hospital should be the top priority.

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

On 20 December 20, the apex court left it to the Punjab government officials and doctors to decide on the hospitalisation of Dallewal.

The court had said 70-year-old Dallewal could be moved to the makeshift hospital setup within 700 metre of the protest site at Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana.

The bench on 19 December referred to civil rights activist Irom Sharmila continuing her protest for more than a decade under medical supervision and asked the Punjab government to convince Dallewal for a health examination.

It also pulled up the state for not running medical tests on Dallewal.

Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since 13 February 2024 after their march to Delhi was stopped by the security forces.

The Haryana government set up barricades on the Ambala–New Delhi National Highway in February after it was announced that the farmers would march to Delhi in support of their demands, including legal guarantee of MSP for their produce.