AMN
The Supreme Court Saturday pulled up the Punjab government for its failure to ensure the hospitalisation of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast-unto-death. Mr Dallewal has been fasting at Khanauri, a border point between Punjab and Haryana, since November 26 in support of long-standing farmer demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, loan waivers, and agricultural reforms.
A vacation bench headed by Justice Surya Kant told Punjab’s Advocate General Gurminder Singh to comply with the court’s previous orders, which instructed the state government to ensure Dallewal’s health remained stable. On December 20, the Supreme Court directed the Punjab government to ensure the well-being of Dallewal and, if necessary, provide hospitalization. The Supreme Court ordered the Punjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to comply with its directives within two days, with the matter scheduled for a hearing on December 31. The court warned that if its orders were not followed, it would consider framing contempt of court charges against the officials at the next hearing.