Supreme Court stays implementation of three farm laws till further orders

Jan. 12: The Supreme Court has suspended the introduction of new agricultural laws that have triggered widespread protests by farmers since November. The Supreme Court said it will form an independent committee to try to resolve the dispute, which is seen as a major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Minister of state for agriculture in the Centre, Kailash Choudhary, said “The Supreme Court’s decision is against our wishes. We wanted the farm laws to be implemented, not to be put on hold. But we respect and welcome the decision.”

Four members of the committee formed by the three-judge bench headed by CJI SA Bobde include:

• BS Mann, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU)
• Ashok Gulati, Agricultural Scientist
• Pramod K Jishi, International Food Policy Research Institute
• Anil Ghanwant, Shetkari Sangathan

The Chief Justice added that the committee will neither punish farmers nor pass an order against them. Seeking the cooperation of farmer unions, the Chief Justice said: “members (farmer unions) are expected to show some loyalty to the judicial system. This is not politics. We want to solve this problem; we want to know the ground situation that is why we are making a committee.” A bench headed by Chief Justice S. A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian said “We cannot ask the Prime Minister to go. He is not a party here.”

Lawyers representing the farmers at the court hearing had said they would consult with the farmers’ groups regarding the court’s suggestion of a committee. After discussion on the pros and cons of the committee, the farmers rejected the suggestion. The statement expressed “respect” and “gratitude” for the Court’s “understanding of the problem and comforting words” during the hearing, but regretted that the unions were unable to accede to its suggestions, as millions of farmers across the country were demanding full repeal of the laws.

Eight rounds of talks have been held till now between the Centre and farmer unions which remained inconclusive. The farmers have stuck to their demand that the laws should be repealed – a proposition rejected by the government.