New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that the status quo be maintained at the Shambhu border near Ambala, where farmers have been camping since February 13.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan said it proposes to constitute an independent committee comprising eminent persons who can reach out to farmers and other stakeholders to find viable solutions to their demands that can be fair, just and in the interests of everyone.
The bench asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to suggest some names of members in the committee or else it can find some suitable persons for the committee.
It asked the Supreme both the States to suggest the names within a week.
“Let appropriate instructions be taken within a week. Till then let parties maintain the status quo at the site to prevent flaring up of the situation at the Shambhu border,” the bench stated in its order.
The top court also asked Punjab and Haryana to take steps for the removal of barricades in a phased manner at the Shambhu border so that no inconvenience is caused to the public at large.
The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal against the July 10 Punjab and Haryana High Court order by which it had directed it to open the highway and clear the barricading within seven days.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Haryana government told opposed the opening of the border saying it will create the law and order problem.
Right now there are armoured tanks at the Shambhu border, said Solicitor General.
“As a welfare State we cannot afford any untoward incident… they are prohibited on a national highway. JCB, tanks, trollies are converted into virtual war tanks. Please see the photos. I am saying this with a sense of responsibility,” he said.
The bench then told Solicitor General that there are some trust deficit and as a State you need to take some initiative to reach out the farmers.
Mehta replied that State was ready to talk.
To this, Justice Kant said, “You are sending your ministers… Why do not you think of a neutral umpire. Some confidence needs to be there. This is a case of trust deficit… or we will think of suggesting some persons having neutral…”
The bench asked then said it was proposing to constitute some independent committee.
The bench also observed that it’s more than a year now and national highway can’t blocked.
The Haryana government has challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order to open the Shambhu border in the Supreme Court. The government’s petition will be heard in the Supreme Court today. During this, the government will present its side in the court. On July 10, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had asked the Haryana government to remove the barricades from the border within a week, so that people do not face any problem in commuting.
It’s been more than 10 days that Shambhu border has not been opened by the Haryana Govt. Haryana Govt challenged the order of Punjab and Haryana High Court in SC and today the apex court will hear the matter.
The High Court gave the order to remove the barricades while hearing the petition of Advocate Vasu Ranjan Shandilya. He called it unfortunate that the Haryana government challenged the High Court’s order in the Supreme Court. He said that the Haryana government should not have done this, because the common people are facing a lot of trouble due to the closure of Shambhu border.
The Supreme Court has already reprimanded for closing the border
A division bench of Justice Suryakant and Justice Ujal Bhuiyan heard the matter in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has already reprimanded the Haryana government for closing the border.
Adv Vasu Ranjan said that during the debate, he will also demand strict guidelines against those blocking the national highway. He hoped that the Supreme Court would put its seal on the High Court order challenged by the Haryana government and order the opening of the Shambhu border.
Farmers’ Protest 2.0 since February
The farmers of Punjab have been agitating since February 2024 regarding the legalization of MSP of crops. In such a situation, keeping security in mind, the Haryana government closed the Shambhu border of Haryana and Punjab by putting up barricades. The farmers too stick on their demands refused to let down and made a permanent front on the border towards Punjab.
Movement has been greatly affected due to the closure of borders due to which common people, and traders are suffering a lot. Taking in view of the inconvenience caused to commuters, HC ordered to open the Shambhu border.