New Delhi, December 28:
The Supreme Court has provided the Punjab government with a deadline of December 31 to convince farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over a month, to go to the hospital. During an exceptional hearing, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan criticized the state for allowing the situation to worsen and for failing to follow earlier instructions to offer medical assistance to Dallewal.
The Punjab government expressed its inability to act, citing strong resistance from protesting farmers who have surrounded Dallewal and are blocking his move to the hospital. Gurminder Singh, the Advocate General of Punjab, informed the bench that an expert medical team had visited the protest site and attempted to persuade Dallewal to accept treatment, but he had refused.
“He (Dallewal) has declined any medical assistance, including IV drips, stating that it would compromise the integrity of the movement,” Singh said. This response angered the bench, which blamed the Punjab government for not taking sufficient action to handle the situation. The bench also suggested that the farmer leaders preventing Dallewal from being moved to the hospital could be charged with abetment to suicide.
The court allowed the Punjab government to seek support from the central government if necessary and expressed hope that the state would follow the order to transfer Dallewal to the hospital. The bench emphasized that Dallewal is likely facing “peer pressure,” and those preventing his hospitalization do not appear to be acting in his best interest.
“Are they concerned about his life or something else? We hope that the Punjab government will comply with our orders,” the bench remarked. On Friday, the court had raised concerns about Dallewal’s condition and ordered the Punjab government to ensure he receives medical care.
A notice was also issued against the Punjab government’s chief secretary and the director general of police for not complying with a previous order to provide medical aid. Dallewal, who is 70 years old, has been fasting indefinitely at the Khanauri border since November 26, demanding that the Centre address farmers’ concerns, such as a legal guarantee for minimum support prices for crops.
Earlier on December 20, the Supreme Court had left the decision of moving Dallewal to the hospital in the hands of Punjab government officials and medical personnel, suggesting he could be transferred to a temporary facility located just 700 meters from the protest site.
On December 19, the bench drew parallels with civil rights activist Irom Sharmila, who had endured a lengthy protest under medical supervision, and urged the Punjab government to convince Dallewal to undergo medical checks. The state had been criticized for not conducting necessary medical tests on him.
Farmers, under the banners of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after security forces halted their march to Delhi.
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