Farmers Movement Archive

No headway, will hear PILs on Jan 11: CJI

New Delhi, January 6Noting that there was no improvement in talks between agitating farmers and the government, the Supreme Court today said it would take up petitions against farm laws and farm protests on January 11. The observation came a day ahead of a “tractor march” by farmers.“There is absolutely no improvement in the situation,” Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said during the hearing of a PIL by advocate ML Sharma on the issue.Attorney General KK Venugopal told the Bench, “There is a good chance that the parties may come to some conclusion in near future.”Traffic Advisory issued by Sonepat policeThe CJI, who had on December 17 indicated constituting a committee of independent and impartial persons, including agriculture experts, to end the stalemate between the protesting farmers and the Centre, said, “We understand the situation. We want to encourage talks. We will take up the matter on Monday and will adjourn, if you say so.”Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said since healthy talks were going on between farmers and the Centre, it would not be advisable to take up the matter immediately.The Attorney General also said that filing of response by the Centre could foreclose avenues of ongoing negotiations between the two sides.Agreeing with Venugopal and Mehta, the Bench said if it was told on Monday that discussions were still underway, it would adjourn the hearing.The Bench, however, issued notice to the Centre on Sharma’s petition challenging a 1954 amendment to the Constitution putting certain agriculture-related issues on the Concurrent List, allowing the Centre to enact farm laws. Meanwhile, the agitating farmers will go ahead with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha’s call for a tractor rally tomorrow morning.Bhartiya Kisan Union state president Joginder Nain said the farmers would assemble at the Bahadurgarh bus stand in the morning. “Thereafter, they will proceed towards Aasodha village. From there, they will drive down the KMP highway to reach Singhu border. Similarly, farmers from Singhu will proceed towards Tikri,” he added. The police have beefed up security along the march route to ward off any untoward incident.Preparing for long haulAs farmers, braving the biting cold, draw elaborate plans for Lohri, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on January 23 and the ‘tractor parade’ on January 26, the govt too seems to be preparing for a long haul. Ahead of the eighth round of talks on Jan 8, sources say the govt has already expressed itswillingness to make amendments to the three farm Acts, and that is about all. Given the kind of public support the stir has received, the negotiators know too well that finding a middle path will be a tough task. “Politically, it’s a matter of 23 seats (Punjab & Haryana) in the 545-member Lok Sabha,” they point out. — Vibha Sharma

The Tribune

2021-01-07