SC sets Dec 31 deadline to hospitalise Dallewal

The Supreme Court on Saturday lashed out at the Punjab government for its inability to hospitalise farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over a month, despite repeated medical advice, observing that this is not just a "failure of law-and-order machinery" but also an "abetment to suicide".

- Utkarsh Anand

Marking the second consecutive day the state faced the court's ire for not complying with repeated orders to ensure Dallewal's hospitalisation, the top court also lambasted those obstructing his hospitalisation, stating that the Supreme Court would not succumb to pressure and would not tolerate "a violent face" of the farmers' movement.

Convening a special sitting during the vacation, a bench of justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia condemned the state's handling of the situation, questioning why it allowed "a virtual fort to be created" around the protest site, adding the state government seems to support the agitation that may result in Dallewal's death.

The matter has been adjourned to December 31, with the court warning that it would take strict action against the state chief secretary and DGP if its directions regarding Dallewal's hospitalisation were not followed.

The Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government came under fire from the Supreme Court on the second consecutive day on Saturday even as the state's chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) cited "fear of resistance and violence" and "collateral damage" as reasons for not being able to shift Dallewal to a hospital.

The two officers, who face contempt proceedings not complying with the December 20 order of the court regarding Dallewal's hospitalisation, remained present virtually during the court proceedings, as per the bench's directive on Saturday.