The Supreme Court has held the Punjab government accountable for the health of Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a farmer leader who has been on a fast for 25 days to demand a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other reforms for farmers. On Friday, the court directed the state government to consider shifting Mr. Dallewal to a makeshift hospital near the protest site for continuous monitoring of his medical condition.
The warning from the Supreme Court comes in the wake of reports that Mr. Dallewal fainted for 8-10 minutes on Thursday, with doctors declaring his life to be “hanging by a thread.”
Court’s Concern Over Farmer Leader’s Health
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan questioned why Mr. Dallewal had not been transferred to a makeshift hospital just 700 meters from the protest site at the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana.
“The Punjab government should take immediate action to ensure his stable health. This is a constitutional duty and responsibility,” the court emphasized.
Monitoring and Medical Updates
Advocate General Gurminder Singh, representing Punjab, informed the court that the state had already conducted an ECG, blood tests, and other medical examinations with Mr. Dallewal’s cooperation. He stated that the farmer leader’s health appeared stable at present.
The Punjab Chief Secretary has constituted a panel of doctors to monitor Mr. Dallewal’s condition. The court has asked the chief secretary and the medical superintendent of the makeshift hospital to submit an affidavit on the matter by January 2, the next hearing date.
Farmer Protests Intensify
The farmers’ demands include a legal guarantee for MSP and other agricultural reforms. In recent weeks, protests have escalated, with a ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers attempting to march to Delhi on December 14. The march was thwarted by the use of tear gas and water cannons, leaving at least 10 injured.
Earlier attempts to march to Delhi on December 6 and December 8 were also blocked. Following these events, farmers organized a tractor march to the Shambhu border on December 16 and staged a ‘rail roko’ protest in Punjab on December 18.
Supreme Court’s Directive
The Supreme Court’s directive underscores the need to balance protest rights with humanitarian concerns. It remains to be seen how the Punjab government will address the situation while managing the growing unrest among farmers.
Sources By Agencies
