New Delhi, Aug 22: The Supreme Court has ordered the formation of a committee to address the grievances of farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border. Justice Surya Kant, heading the Bench, proposed that Justice Nawab Singh, a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, lead negotiations with the farmers. The aim is to remove tractors and trolleys from the National Highway to ease public traffic.
Committee Details and First Meeting
The Supreme Court instructed the committee to hold its first meeting within a week. The panel will include Justice Nawab Singh, former Haryana DGP BS Sandhu, agricultural analyst Devender Sharma, Professor Ranjit Singh Ghuman, agricultural economist Dr. Sukhpal Singh, and Professor Baldev Raj Kamboj as a special invitee. The court emphasized that protests should remain non-political and advised farmers to avoid unrealistic demands.
High Court’s Earlier Ruling and Ongoing Considerations
The Supreme Court is reviewing Haryana’s challenge against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order to remove barricades at the Shambhu border. The High Court had directed both states to reopen the highway within a week and restore it for public use. This order followed a Public Interest Litigation addressing traffic disruptions and the impact on commuters and goods transportation. The border had been sealed to prevent farmers from entering Haryana.
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