Supreme Court to Form Committee to Resolve Farmers' Grievances at Shambhu Border

On Thursday, the Supreme Court revealed its intention to set up a multi-member committee aimed at resolving the ongoing grievances of farmers and negotiating with the protesters at the Shambhu border. This decision follows a plea by the Haryana government challenging a high court order that mandated the removal of barricades at the Shambhu borders.

Committee Formation and Next Steps

The bench, consisting of Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta, and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to present tentative issues related to farmers’ concerns to the newly formed committee. The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 2.

Background of the Protests

Farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu border near Ambala since February 13, 2023. The Haryana government erected barricades along the Ambala-New Delhi national highway in response to planned marches by the ‘Samyukta Kisan Morcha’ (Non-Political) and ‘Kisan Mazdoor Morcha’, who were advocating for a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) of their produce.

Recent Developments

On August 12, the Supreme Court instructed the Punjab government to persuade the protesting farmers to remove their tractors and trollies from the highway, citing that “highways are not parking spaces.” In response, the Punjab government informed the court that a meeting had been held with the protesters, leading to an agreement to partially open the blocked highway.

Future Actions

The Supreme Court has urged both Punjab and Haryana governments to continue their dialogue with the farmers and work towards resolving the issues. The formation of the multi-member committee is expected to facilitate this process and provide a structured approach to addressing the farmers’ demands.