The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Punjab government to submit a copy of the health reports of fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal to get an opinion from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) medical board.
According to Live Law, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented the State of Punjab, submitted before a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh that there is now a medical facility just 10 meters near the protest site and that Dallewal's parameters are "improving."
Wondering how the improvement is possible after such prolonged fasting, Justice Kant said, "Where are the latest parameters? Last time some officers filed an affidavit [stating that his condition is deteriorating], now you are saying that his parameters are improving? How can it happen? On one hand, you are saying your doctors are there 24x7, and your medical team is there, how the parameters are improving? The person to whom we are saying that he appears to have been placed there as some people are putting kind of peer pressure on him, he will not dispute [his vitals]. 49 days [a person is on hunger strike] and his parameters are improving?", Live Law reported.
The top court also noted the Punjab government's submission that authorities are in deliberations with the protesting farmers and they are hopeful of a solution.
Dallewal's fasting crosses 50 days
Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 51 days since November 26 at the Khanouri border to press for the implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other demands.
Dallewal so far has firmly refused to take any medical aid despite his prolonged fasting, which has caused his health to worsen. According to the farmer leaders, Dallewal was having difficulty in drinking water as body is refusing water and is moving towards multi-organ failure. Earlier, it was told that Dallewal had not been eating anything and was just surviving on water.
Doctors attending to Dallewal told PTI that his health was "deteriorating" every day as prolonged fasting has led to an increase in ketone bodies.
SC's concern over Dallewal's heath
Back in December, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the life and safety of Dallewal. The court maintained that Dallewal could continue his hunger strike under medical supervision and directed the Punjab government to take all steps to ensure medical assistance for him.
Emphasising that Dallewal라이브 바카라 health was the top priority, the apex court said, “That is our only concern. His life is precious as a farmers’ leader. He is not aligned to any political ideologies and he is taking care of only the farmers’ cause.”
Moreover, a vacation bench of Justice Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia issued notice to the Punjab government on the contempt petition against the chief secretary for not complying with the apex court's order regarding medical assistance to Dallewal, as per PTI.
"If there is a law and order situation, you have to deal with it with an iron hand. Somebody's life is at stake. You need to take it seriously. Medical aid has to be given, and the impression is that you are not following it," the bench stated.
Farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 last year, after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
Why are the farmers protesting again?
In 2020, a massive agitation took place as the farmers viewed the Centre's farm laws as unfair and threatening to their livelihoods. The laws weakened the existing system of government-regulated wholesale markets (mandis), lacked legal guarantees for Minimum Support Price (MSP), and allowed for more flexible contract farming agreements.
The protesting farmers demanded the repeal of these laws and the enactment of a law mandating MSP for all crops to ensure fair prices. They also sought exemption from rising electricity bills, which added to their financial strain.
After nearly a year of protests, the government finally agreed to repeal the laws in November 2021 and accepted most of the farmers' demands, in what was celebrated as a huge victory for the farmers.
Two years on, farmer unions argue that the government has failed to deliver on its promise to legally ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP).
What are the farmers protesting over?
Besides a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
