Farmers Protests : Petitioner Seeks To Add More Farmers Organizations As Respondents In Plea To Remove Protesters

The petitioner in the PIL against farmers protests has filed an application in the Supreme Court to implead 35 more farmers organizations as additional respondents in the case.

Last week, the Supreme Court had allowed the impleadment of eight farmers organizations. The Court said that it was considering to set up an independent committee to mediate between the protesting farmers and the Central Government. However, the Court refrained from passing any substantive directions in that regard as the impleaded eight farmers organizations did not appear before the bench on the next date of hearing.

Now, the petitioner, law student Rishabh Sharma, has filed an application to implead the following groups :

• BKU Units of:  Bhanu, Tikait,Kadian, Mansa, Maan, Chadhuni Jattan, Mubarakpur, Ambavta
• BKU Ekta Ugraha
• BKU Krantikari VPO Phull
• Krantikari Kisan Union
• Kul Hind Kisan Sabha
• Kirti Kisan Union
• Punjab Kisan Union
• Kul Hind Kisan Sabha
• Kisan Sangharsh Committee
• Azad Kisan Sangharsh
• Jai Kisaan Andolan
• Kisaan Majdoor Sangharsh
• Majha Kisan Committee
• Indian Farmer Association of India
• Bhartiya Kisan Manch
• Lok Bhalai Insaaf Welfare Society
• Doaba Kisan Samiti
• Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee
• Ganna Kisan Committee
• Aajad Kisan Committee, Doaba
• Kisan Bacharach Morcha
• Kul Hind Kisan Sangharsh Talmel Committee
• Sarva Hind Rashtriya Kisan
• Mahila Kisan Adhikar Munch
• Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh

After the hearing held on December 16, the Supreme Court allowed the impleadment of the following organizations :

• Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU – Rakesh Tikait)
• BKU-Sidhupur (Jagjeet S. Dallewal)
• BKU-Rajewal (Balbeer Singh Rajewal)
• BKU-Lakhowal (Harinder Singh Lakhowal)
• Jamhoori Kisan Sabha (Kulwant Singh Sandhu)
• BKU-Dakaunda (Buta Singh Burjgill)
• BKU – Doaba (Manjit Singh Rai)
• Kul Hind Kisan Federation (Prem Singh Bhangu)

On the next date of hearing, on December 17, these 8 groups were not represented before the court. The petitioner claimed that they were served notice.

The bench headed by the CJI SA Bobde orally observed that it may not be appropriate to pass orders without hearing the organizations which were added as respondents.

Only Bharatiya Kisan Union(Bhanu), which has filed an intervention application in the cases challenging farm laws, appeared before the court through Advocate A P Singh. However, Solicitor General told the Court that BKU(Bhanu) and other farmers unions were not on the same page on the issues.

In this backdrop, the Court adjourned the hearing, observing that the farmers protests can continue without impediment and without breach of peace by protesters and police.

"We are of the view at this stage that the farmers' protest should be allowed to continue without impediment and without any breach of peace either by the protesters or the police.We clarify that this Court will not interfere with the protest in question. Indeed the right to protest is part of a fundamental right and can as a matter of fact, be exercised subject to public order. There can certainly be no impediment in the exercise of such rights as long as it is non-violent and does not result in damage to the life and properties of other citizens and is in accordance with law", the court observed in the order.

While adjourning the hearing, the CJI also orally asked the Attorney General for India if the Centre can consider withholding the implementation of the contentious farm laws to facilitate the negotiations.