Taking note of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal accepting medical aid and agreeing to talk to the Centre’s representatives in Chandigarh on February 14, the Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing on a petition demanding legal guarantee of MSP on crops.
A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh adjourned the hearing on a petition filed by Guninder Kaur Gill to after February 14, saying it did not want to hear the matter till the meeting took place to avoid any confusion.
Kaur has sought a direction to the Centre for implementation of the legal guarantee of MSP on crops made to the protesting farmers in 2021, after the farm laws were repealed.
Justice Kant told Gill that Dallewal gave an interview in the media on January 28 where he said he was taking medical help and expressed the desire to participate in the scheduled meeting, in case his health permitted.
“He has also reposed faith in the apex court-appointed committee and is hoping that a solution may come out of the meeting,” the Bench said.
On January 22, the Bench had kept in abeyance a contempt petition action against the Punjab Chief Secretary and the DGP after being informed that Dallewal — on a hunger strike since November 26, 2024 — was undergoing medical treatment without breaking his fast.
On January 2, it had asked the Centre why it could not say that its doors were open and it would consider the genuine grievances of farmers protesting over various demands, including the legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops.