Farmers Protest In Punjab: Plea In P & H HC Demands Police Officials Of All Ranks To Wear Uniform Bearing ID [Read Petition]

Farmers from Punjab and Haryana are staging protests against bills on food and agriculture reform introduced by the Centre in the Lok Sabha on September 14.  The Farmers' Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill were introduced in parliament on Monday. Farmers have expressed apprehension that these would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system and they would be at the "mercy" of big corporates. 

The plea by the Haryana Progressive Farmers Union further requires that the officials also wear accurate, visible and clear identification and name tags with their designations. It is sought that all such details must be recorded in the police register; while complying with the directions of the Supreme Court in 'D.K. Basu Vs. State of West Bengal'.

"The facts and circumstances of the present case would reveal the aforesaid DK Basu guidelines need to be implemented by police while discharging duties of  maintaining law and order during protests/agitations by citizens", avers the plea through Advocates Pardeep Kumar Rapria and Parveen Kumar.

It is narrated that on 10th September, 2020; some unknown persons without police uniform and others in police uniform resorted to lathicharge on the farmers; protesting against three recent agriculture ordinances. Numerous farmers including old aged persons were seriously injured. Whereas, next day, the Haryana Ministry of Home issued a categorical statement to media to the effect that "no lathicharge took place anywhere" on the protesting farmers, that "No orders were passed to use force on farmers".

"The general public at large; including the petitioner; were shocked to know that actually the attackers on farmers were not policemen", reads the petition. It indicates that the MP/MLAs including the Haryana Deputy Chief Minister condemned the police's use of force on agitating farmers and demanded a probe into the incident.

The plea submits that now, the farmers' unions have decided to hold protests in all district headquarters from September 15 onwards. The Petitioner-union has an apprehension that "some antisocial elements while camouflaging as policemen" may resort to violence and create law and problems during the farmer agitation, "culminating into the butchering of the fundamental rights of farmers and also the law abiding policemen".

Stating that the transparency and accountability in police actions are two possible safeguards for securing the fundamental rights of citizens, the petition is filed for protection of the fundamental right envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution.