In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has proposed the formation of a neutral committee to address the ongoing trust issues between the governments of Punjab and Haryana and the protesting farmers. The suggestion was made by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan during a hearing on a petition filed by the Haryana government against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which directed the unblocking of the Shambhu border.
The Shambhu border has been closed since February to prevent the movement of protesting farmers from Punjab to Haryana. The bench questioned whether any efforts had been made to negotiate with the farmers and suggested confidence-building measures through neutral mediators. “There is a trust deficit. Why don’t you have some neutral umpires?” the bench asked, emphasizing the need for effective dialogue.
The court directed both states to maintain the status quo at the protest site and to propose a plan for removing the barricades to minimize public inconvenience. Additionally, Punjab and Haryana have been asked to suggest suitable individuals to be part of the proposed committee.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted concerns about law and order, noting that over 500-600 tractors modified as armoured tanks were stationed at the protest site. The court, however, stressed the importance of outreach efforts and maintaining dialogue with the farmers.
The Supreme Court’s proposal aims to bridge the trust gap and ensure a peaceful resolution to the farmers’ demands, which include a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for certain crops. The hearing has been scheduled for next week to further discuss and finalize the proposed measures.
