Never directed to end Dallewal’s hunger strike: SC on farmers’ protest

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it has never directed to end the hunger strike of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast unto death but is only concerned with his health.

“There appears to be a deliberate attempt in the entire media where state government officers (of Punjab) are trying to create an impression that there is a persuasion by this court to Mr. Dallewal to break his fast. Our directions were not to break his fast. We only said let his health be taken care of and he can continue his peaceful protest even when he is hospitalised,” a bench headed by justice Surya Kant told Punjab’s advocate-general (AG) Gurminder Singh.

The bench, also comprising justice Ujjal Bhuyan, said shifting Dallewal to hospital should not mean that he will not continue his fast, but medical facilities will ensure that no harm is caused to his life.

In response, AG Singh submitted that state government officials tried to convince Dallewal to take medical aid in terms of the apex court order. However, Dallewal remained firm that he would take medical aid only if the Union government was ready for talks. At this, the justice Kant-led bench remarked, “Please don't force us to say many things. Your attitude is that there should be no reconciliation. That is the whole problem”.

Further, the apex court expressed anguish at the “irresponsible statements” being made by “so-called farmers' leaders to complicate things”. It cautioned that if the Punjab government keeps failing to implement its order regarding the hospitalisation of Dallewal, the apex court will seek intervention of the Centre.

The 70-year-old cancer patient has been fasting at Khanauri, the border point between Punjab and Haryana, since 26 November in support of long-pending farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops, farm loan waivers and reforms to improve conditions in the agricultural sector.

The matter will be heard next on 6 January.

On Tuesday, the top court deferred till 2 January the hearing on a contempt plea seeking action against the chief secretary of Punjab over non-hospitalisation of Dallewal. In that hearing, the Punjab government sought additional time to comply with its 20 December decision, where it was directed to ensure the stable health condition of Dallewal.

“It is entirely the responsibility of the State of Punjab to ensure the stable health condition of Mr Jagjit Singh Dallewal, for which if he requires hospitalisation, the authorities must ensure to do so. The State Government, therefore, will take a call as to whether Mr Dallewal can be shifted to the makeshift hospital (temporary hospital, which is said to have been set up at a distance of 700 metres from the site) or to any other well-equipped hospital,” the SC had ordered.