The three new agriculture laws enacted in September last year by the Centre that stirred massive farmer protests near Delhi will not come into force for now. The Supreme Court today has put the laws on ice and also said a committee of agricultural experts would be constituted to take over discussions with farmers to end the crisis, saying "It is a victory for fair play".
Chief Justice SA Bobde said, "We are staying three farm laws until further orders.”
The laws "were not hurriedly made", the Centre has told the court stating that they were the result of two decades of deliberations and will be beneficial for the farmers.
Over the past eight rounds of talks, the govt has denied withdrawing the three farm laws, instead have proposed making amendments in them, which the farmers have declined the proposal saying they demand repealing of the laws and nothing less.
The Supreme Court said it was trying to solve the issue in all possible ways and had the power to suspend the laws. "These are matters of life and death. We are concerned with laws. We are concerned with the lives and property of people affected by the agitation. We are trying to solve the problem in the best way. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation," the Chief Justice said.
"We want to solve the problem and that's why we are making the committee. Give the names to us, we will decide," CJI added.
The Supreme Court has identified four members to form the committee to which Former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha has refused to head the panel said, "I declined the offer to head the panel.”
The SC has also asked the four-member committee to submit a report before the court on the farm laws. The members of the committee are:
1. Bhupender Singh Mann, BKU
2. Anil Ghanwant of Shetkari Sanghatana
3. Ashok Gulati, Agricultural Scientist
4. Pramod K Joshi of the International Food Policy Research Institute
"We are forming a committee so that we have a clearer picture. We don't want to hear arguments that farmers will not go to the committee. We are looking to solve the problem. If you (farmers) want to agitate indefinitely, you can do so," CJI Bobde said.
The CJI said, "We are concerned about the validity of the laws and also about protecting the life and property of citizens affected by protests. We are trying to solve the problem with the powers we have. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation and make a committee.”
"This committee will be for us. All of you people who are expected to solve the issue will go before this committee. It will not pass an order or punish you, it will only submit a report to us... The committee is part of the judicial process in this case. We are planning to suspend the laws but not indefinitely," he added.
Issuing a notice to the farmers’ unions on Delhi police appeal, the apex court has asked the farmers to stop the tractor rally during the January 26 Republic Day parade.
The judges have dismissed ML Sharma’s counter, the lawyer for protesting farmers, as he said farmers would not participate in the committee as PM Modi had refused to talk to them. To which the Chief Justice said, "We cannot ask the PM anything, he is not a party before us.”
The Court seeking cooperation the protesting farmers have said: "genuinely want resolution, will go to the committee" on farm laws.
"This is not politics. There is a difference between politics and judiciary and you will have to cooperate, said CJI to the farmers.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court had said it was disappointed by the way the government has handled the crisis. It said, "Each one of us will be responsible if anything goes wrong. We don't want any injuries or blood on our hands.”
As the centre asked for more time, referring to ongoing negotiations, Justice Bobde said: "We don't see you are dealing with this issue effectively. Who is going to be responsible for bloodshed if any?"
For over a month, thousands of farmers have been camping at several border points of the national capital, have warned of a tractor march during the Republic Day parade, to which the Centre told the court that such disturbance during the Republic Day parade "will be an embarrassment to the nation."
The next meeting between the government and farmers is scheduled for Friday.