SC questions Centre, raps Punjab on Dallewal health

THE BENCH ASKED THE CENTRE WHY IT CAN'T MAKE A STATEMENT TO DEFUSE THE CRISIS? IT ALSO CALLED 'INEFFECTIVE' THE PUNJAB GOVT'S HANDLING OF DALLEWAL HEALTH

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Union government for its lack of assurances to protesting farmers demanding systemic agricultural reforms and legal guarantees for Minimum Support Price (MSP). At the same time, the court reprimanded the Punjab government for failing to hospitalise farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 37 days, despite deteriorating health and medical advice.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan also issued notice to the Centre on a fresh petition filed by advocate Guninder Kaur Gill, who, acting as Dallewal's representative, sought directions for the Union government to honour its previous proposals for MSP guarantees and other reforms.