SC Flays Punjab Govt for Failing to Shift Dallewal to Hospital

The Supreme Court on Thursday reprimanded the Punjab government for failing to comply with its directive to shift fasting leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike since November 26 last year to a hospital, for creating an impression that the court was trying to break his fast.

The court clarified that transferring Dallewal to a hospital does not mean forcing him to end his hunger strike. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan told Punjab's Advocate General (AG) Gurinder Singh, "There has been a deliberate attempt to portray in the media that the court is pressuring him to end his hunger strike. Our directive was solely to ensure his health and safety, not to terminate his protest."

"Dallewal's life is crucial as he is fighting for farmers' interests and is not aligned with any political ideology", observed the bench expressing displeasure at the Punjab government's approach.