New Delhi: The Supreme Court announced on Thursday that it will form a committee to peacefully settle the complaints of the farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border within a week. Judge Surya Kant led bench asked the states of Punjab and Haryana to propose the terms of reference for the expert panel's work within three days.
The bench, also comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan, was considering the pleas moved by the Haryana government against the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordering the removal of barricades at the Shambhu border.
The apex court clarified that it has not precluded the state governments from holding meetings with the protesting farmers in the meantime.
The matter will be heard next on September 2, IANS reported.
In an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court mulled the formation of an independent committee to reach out to the agitating farmers to find out "some viable solution of the issues to the extent they are found to be just, fair, feasible and most importantly in the interest of one and all".
It had asked the Union and state governments to take some steps to reach out to the farmers and suggested sending a neutral umpire. Observing that there exists a trust deficit between the stakeholders, the Supreme Court had sought suggestions for names of individuals who can be included in the expert panel. In the meantime, it ordered the state governments to maintain a status quo at the site of protests.
On July 10, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed to "at least" open the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana within a week. In its order, a division bench of Justices G.S. Sandhawalia and Vikas Bahl asked the Punjab as well as the Haryana governments to ensure that the highway is restored to its original glory and open to one and all for the convenience of the public.
"The State of Punjab shall also ensure that the demonstrators gathered in their territory are also duly controlled as and when the situation so requires," ordered the high court, asking all the Kisan Unions to maintain law and order. It noted that the diversion which has been made to avoid the blockage was causing great inconvenience to the general public.
The decision came on a public interest litigation (PIL) against the barricading amid increasing concerns over the disruption of traffic and its impact on daily commuters and the transportation of goods. The interstate border was sealed to prevent protesting farmers from entering Haryana.