Contempt Petition Filed In Supreme Court Against Punjab Authorities For Removing Protesting Farmers

A contempt petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the Director General of Police of the State of Punjab, alleging their wilful disobedience and defiance of last year's order directing the status quo at the Shambhu border to prevent any "untoward incident".

It is alleged that the Punjab Police carried out a "forceful eviction operation" at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, involving over 3,000 police personnel, in which protesting farmers were forcibly removed, their camps were dismantled and several leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, were detained. The actions were taken without obtaining any modification or permission from the Supreme Court which had passed the status quo order, the Sehajpreet Singh, the contempt petitioner, argues.

The status quo order was passed by the Supreme Court on July 24, 2024, while considering the State of Haryana's petition challenging the P&H High Court's order to unblock the Shambhu Border, which was closed in February 2024 to prevent the movement of protesting farmers from Punjab to Haryana.

By the said order, the Supreme Court also directed the states of Punjab and Haryana to submit their respective proposals for the removal of barricades in a phased matter for the free flow of traffic and to redress the inconvenience experienced by the public at large. Later, the Supreme Court formed a committee to hold negotiations with the protesters.

It is alleged in the contempt petition that the Punjab Police, under the direction of the State Administration, proceeded to use force against the agitating farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders on March 19.

"Contrary to the express orders of this Hon'ble Court, on 19.03.2025, Punjab Police carried out a large-scale police action at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The operation, led by senior police officials, involved the use of heavy force, illegal arrest, dismantling of protest sites, and destruction of vehicles of the farmers directly violating the status quo order of this Hon'ble Court. The said incidents of forceful removal of agitating farmers from the protest site by the police officials was on air, over all the media and channels and published in various newspaper," the contempt petition states.

It should be noted that this will be the second contempt petition against the Punjab authorities in this matter. The Supreme Court has been hearing a contempt petition against the Punjab authorities for failing to shift Dallewal to the hospital in light of fast-unto-death. There was a breakthrough in that matter after Dallewal accepted medical aid and agreed to hold talks with the Union. On persuasion by the State of Punjab, farmers also met Justice (Retired) Nawab Singh, the Chairperson of the High-Powered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court to negotiate with the protesters.

The contempt petition has been filed by Advocate-on-Record, Snehpreet Kaur and has been drawn by Advocate, Angrej Singh.

Case : Sehajpreet Singh vs Gaurav Yadav IPS and others | Diary No.15475/2025