Supreme Court Constitutes a High-Powered Committee to Negotiate with the Farmers Protesting at the Shambhu Border

On September 02, 2024 (Monday), the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing a petition filed by the State of Haryana against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order to remove the blockade at the Shambhu border to relieve the general public of inconvenience. The SC bench constituting Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan ordered the constitution of a High-powered Committee to negotiate with the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border. Further, the bench said that the High-powered Committee is requested to reach out to the agitating farmers at the Shambu border to impress upon them to immediately remove their tractors/trolleys, tents, and other accessories from and near the National Highway so as to enable the civil and police administration of both the states to open the National Highway. It also said that “...both the State Governments are on affidavit in terms whereof alternative sites for continuing with a peaceful agitation by the agitated farmers have been earmarked. They shall, therefore, be at liberty to shift the venue of their peaceful agitation to such allocated sites.” The members of the High-powered committee include:

• Justice (Retd.) Nawab Singh, Former Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court – Chairperson;
• Shri B.S. Sandhu, IPS (Retd.) former Director General of Police, Haryana, who otherwise hails from the State of Punjab - Member
• Sri Devinder Sharma,...– Member;
• Prof. Ranjit Singh Ghumman, Prof. of Eminence at GNDU, Amritsar (Punjab) and Prof. (Economics) at CRRID – Member; and
• Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Agricultural Economist, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana -- Member
• Special Advisor- Prof. Baldev Raj Kamboj, Vice-Chancellor, CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar

The top court also cautioned the farmers to stay away from political parties. It said, “We caution the agitating farmers to keep themselves at a safe distance from the political parties, political issues, and not to insist on such demands which are not feasible to be accepted outrightly.” While illustrating the manes suggested by the State of Punjab and Haryana for constituting a committee, the bench said that all the names suggested are eminent, distinct in their respective fields, and are above board. It added, “They are persons of high integrity with a dedicated commitment to the field of their specialization, with special expertise in the field of agriculture and firsthand knowledge of the hardships being experienced by the rural people including farmers.” Moreover, the bench said, “We may hasten to add that there is a sizeable population of non-agriculture communities in the States of Punjab and Haryana – largely belong to the marginalized sections of the society and live below the poverty line. Most of them are the strength and backbone of agricultural activities in their villages/areas. We acknowledge their contribution towards the agricultural growth and are of the view that their legitimate aspirations, if not enforceable rights, also deserve empathy and due consideration by the Committee, while examining the larger issues…”

The SC also said, “We hope and trust that the one of the major demands of the agitating farmers regarding constitution of a neutral High-powered Committee having been accepted with the consent of both the States, they will immediately respond to the request of the High-powered Committee and will vacate the Shambu border or the other roads connecting the two States without any delay. This gesture will provide huge relief to the general public who are facing extreme hardships due to the blockade of the Highways. It will also facilitate the High-powered Committee and both the States to consider the farmers genuine and just demands in a dispassionate and objective manner.” Lastly, the bench told the Member Secretary of the High-powered Committee that he should place on record the interim status report with advance copies to both State Governments. Therefore, the matter was posted for further consideration on October 14, 2024.