SC ORDERS PUNJAB GOVT. TO MOVE DALLEWAL TO MAKESHIFT HOSPITAL

Asserting that the health of fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal was the responsibility of the Punjab government, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the state government to shift Dallewal to a nearby makeshift hospital at the Khanauri border where his health can be monitored round-the-clock.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

During a resumed hearing the bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the Punjab government Advocate General Gurminder Singh to file an undertaking during the course of the day with regard to shifting of the 70-year-old farmer leader to the makeshift hospital setup near the protest site at the Punjab and Haryana border.

The court's directive came as the health of Dallewal deteriorated as his fast unto death entered the 25th day.

On Thursday Dallewal fainted for 8-10 minutes and doctors examining him said that his life was "hanging by a thread".

Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast since November 26 to press the Centre to accept the demands of protesting farmers, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

However, the Punjab AG informed the apex court that with Dallewal's cooperation, an echocardiogram (ECG) and blood and other tests have been conducted and his health appears to be stable.