SC puts hold on the 3 farm laws, forms committee to end deadlock

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 12, stayed the implementation of the Centre’s 3 farm laws till further notice. It also constituted a 4-member expert committee which will consider the grievances of both the Centre and the farmers and would submit a report to the court. All those concerned with the issue would be able to go before the committee to present their concerns.

The committee compromises of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKP) President and Chairman of the Kisan Coordination Committee, Bhupinder Singh Man, Policy expert Dr Pramod Joshi, Agricultural economist Ashok Gulati, Anil Ghanvat of the Shetkari Sangathan.

The farmers have indicated that they'll stick by their demand for the 3 controversial farm laws to be repealed, and that they do not see the Supreme Court’s proposed committee as a solution to the deadlock.

"We'd issued a press note last night stating that we won't accept any committee formed by Supreme Court for mediation," said Darshan Pal, the president of the Krantikari Kisan Union. "We had said yesterday itself that we won't appear before any such committee. Our agitation will go on as usual. All the members of this Committee are pro-government and had been justifying the laws of the government," said Balbir Singh Rajewal, a member of the Bhartiya Kisan Union.

The court has also said that the Minimum Support Price System will be maintained until further orders. In addition, the farmers’ land holdings shall be protected.

The first meeting of the expert committee has to be held within ten days from 12 January, and it is to submit its report to the Centre within two months of that meeting.

The Centre is scheduled to hold the ninth round of talks with farmer union leaders on 15 January.

Source: The Quint

Written by Siddhant Sharma