Farmers Protest: Punjab & Haryana HC Adjourns Hearing To Tuesday; Asks Centre, States To File Affidavit Based On Meeting With Farmers Today

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Central and State governments to file an affidavit based on their meeting with the farmers which is scheduled to be held today.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Vikas Suri was hearing two pleas, one filed against blockade of roads by the protesting farmers and the other against "obstructive" measures adopted by the Haryana government to prevent them from marching towards Delhi.

ASG Satya Pal Jain today informed the Court that a meeting has been scheduled between the Union ministers and representatives of the Farmers Union. Accordingly, the bench ordered, "Let short affidavit be filed by the respondents on Tuesday".

The farmers are protesting in demand of a law guaranteeing MSP, among other things. During the course of previous hearing, the Court had called for an amicable settlement between the parties. Central government had also made a statement in the court that it is open to negotiations on the issue. Accordingly, a meeting is scheduled today at 5 pm.

The petitioner Uday Pratap Singh, a Chandigarh based lawyer has challenged the "obstructive actions" of the government, including sealing of border between Haryana and Puniab and suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in several districts of Haryana.

Singh alleged that Haryana government has resorted to violent means and is using weapons like rubber pellet, tear gas cannons on peaceful protesters. The Haryana government on the other hand submitted that the protest is unauthorised, organised without seeking any permission from the authorities. It submitted six districts in the State, i.e, Yamunanagar, Charkhi Dadri, Kurukshetra, Jhajjar, Panchkula and Karnal have already earmarked areas for holding peaceful agitation and others districts are also directed to identify.

Punjab government also submitted the situation is tense but under control and all the arrangements have been made including the medical facilities. It added that they have no objection to protest, as long as it is peaceful.

"They have right to protest peacefully," the ACJ then remarked. Previously also, the Court had observed that "right of free passage of the public at large is to be balanced with right of freedom of speech and expression and that none of them existing in isolation can be put-forth so that the general public is not put to any inconvenience."

Today, the ACJ also criticised the Petitioner for seeking intervention of the United Nations on the issue. "You mentioned it, we took it up, once you have invoked the jurisdiction of this Court, how can you take it to UN," it observed.

Expressing regret, Singh submitted that he will take steps to withdraw it.

Title: Uday Pratap Singh v. UOI & Ors.