Farmers Protest | Punjab & Haryana High Court Orders Judicial Probe Into Death Of Protestor, Says Farmers Using Children As Shield Was 'Shameful'

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today, ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of a protesting farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who lost his life on February 21 on the Punjab-Haryana border.

Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, said that the investigation cannot be handed over to Punjab or Haryana "for obvious reasons" and constituted a three-member committee consisting of a retired High Court judge and two officers of ADGP rank from Haryana and Punjab.

The Court directed the States to give names of the ADGP officer by 4. P.M. today.

ACJ Sandhawalia also came down heavily upon the petitioners when Haryana Government showed pictures of protesting sites. "Children were being used as shield, this is absolutely shameful!..it is a sad state of affairs, children who are supposed to study in school are shown what they should not be...it was a war like situation." ACJ Sandhawalia orally remarked.

The bench also questioned the Haryana government on what kind of bullets and pellets were being used on Protestors by Haryana Police and asked them to give details on the same.

Perusing the affidavit filed by the States, the Court said the death was apparently a case of excess police force. It also pulled up the Punjab Police for delay in lodging an FIR on the death of the Protestor, as the incident took place on February 21 and the FIR was lodged on February 28.

ASG Satya Pal Jain submitted that the Central Government is open for discussions with Farmer leaders in Chandigarh or Delhi, wherever they want and certain remedial measures have already been taken.

The farmers are protesting in demand of a law guaranteeing MSP, among other things. The Court was hearing the plea challenging the alleged obstructive actions of the government and another plea seeking a judicial probe on the death of a protester, along with other related PILs.

Previously, ACJ GS Sandhawalia orally asked the Punjab Government to ensure that protestors are not gathered in large numbers, "they have right to protest but it is subjected to reasonable restrictions," the judge said.

During the hearing, ACJ Sandhawalia had also objected to farmers traveling in tractors and trolleys for protest. "According to Motor Vehicle Act, you cannot use tractors and trolleys on highway...you are travelling on your tractors and trolleys from Amritsar to Delhi.. everyone knows about their rights but there are also constitutional duties," the ACJ said.

Title: Uday Pratap Singh v. State of Punjab & Ors.

The story will be updated. A detailed order is awaited.