First physical meeting likely on Jan 19, says SC panel member
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Courtappointed panel on farm laws is likely to hold its first meeting on January 19 at Pusa campus here, one of its members Anil Ghanwat said on Thursday and asserted the committee will have no “ego or prestige issue” if it has to go to farmers’ protest sites to talk to them.
The panel members were scheduled to have a virtual interaction earlier in the day to discuss its future course of action, but it could not take place after ex-MP and farmer leader Bhupinder Singh Mann recused himself from the committee.
The existing members can hold their virtual interaction on Friday now, Ghanwat said, while asserting that he will not leave the committee unless asked by the apex court and he does not expect any other member to recuse.
On January 11, the apex court
had appointed a four-member committee to look into the new farm laws against which the farmers, especially from Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at Delhi borders for over 40 days.
The court had directed the committee to hold its first sitting within 10 days and submit a report in two months.
“The first sitting will have to be held before January 20. It will be held with existing members.
Most probably, the meeting will be on January 19 in Pusa campus,” Ghanwat told PTI in an interview.
Asked if the committee will continue to function with existing members, he said, “The existing three-member committee will function unless the Supreme Court gives a direction to add one more member.” Ghanwat is the President of the Maharashtra-based farm organisation Shetkari Sanghatana.
About the scheduled virtual meeting of panel members, he said, “Since Mann recused himself from the committee, the meeting could not take place. It can take place tomorrow.” In the virtual interaction, the panel members were to decide about convening the first meeting before January 20 and the terms of reference among others.
On the possibility of other members resigning from the panel, he said, “Till the apex court asks me, I will not leave the committee.”