SC Hopeful of Breakthrough in Farmers' Protests After Dialogue

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed optimism over the resolution of the prolonged farmers' protest along the Punjab-Haryana border after the Punjab government reported that a section of protesting farmers has agreed to meet the chairman of the court-appointed panel for talks.

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI:

The farmers, led by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal who has been on a hunger strike for 41 days, have been camping along the border since February 2024, demanding systemic agricultural reforms and legal guarantees for Minimum Support Price (MSP), the price at which the government procures key crops.

"We hope better sense prevails...talks take a good shape," remarked a bench comprising justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh after the Punjab government informed the bench about the breakthrough.

The bench expressed hope for a positive outcome following a statement from senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented the Punjab government. Sibal informed the court that some protesters have agreed to meet justice Nawab Singh, the chairman of the committee, for discussions.

"We have somehow managed to persuade some protesters...Some of the encroachers and protesters are meeting justice Nawab Singh today at 3 pm. We are hopeful there would be a breakthrough. Please, give us some time," Sibal submitted.

Accepting this submission, the bench adjourned the hearing to January 10.