Put farm laws on hold or we will, SC tells Centre

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday proposed that it would either put the implementation of the three three controversial agriculture laws on hold itself or proceed to do so on the recommendation of a court-appointed committee, a move that could potentially bring to an end to the stir by thousands of farmers who have been camping on Delhi’s borders for over a month.

Rapping the Centre for its handling of farmers’ protest against the new laws, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde also questioned the government’s vehement opposition to its suggestion that the implementation of three new farm laws be held back for the time being so as to help find an amicable solution.

The bench, also comprising justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said that a final order on putting the laws on hold and forming a panel to hold discussions in the matter will be announced on Tuesday.

“We don’t see why there is an insistence on implementation of the law,” the bench said, adding, “We are not experts on economy and you (Centre) tell us whether you are going to hold on these laws or we will do this”.

Farmer leaders said they would continue their agitation even if the government or the Supreme Court stays the implementation of the new agri laws. “We welcome the Supreme Court observation, but ending the protest is not an option. Any stay is only for a fixed period of

time... till the issue is taken up by the court again,” Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union president Gurnam Singh Chaduni said.

The farmers want the laws to be repealed completely. The protest will continue even if the government or the Supreme Court stays their implementation, he said.

During the hearing, attorney general KK Venugopal told the

bench that a law cannot be stayed unless the court finds it violates fundamental rights or constitutional schemes.

“A law cannot be stayed by the Supreme Court unless the Lordships find that it violates the fundamental rights or constitutional schemes. Law has to be without the power to legislate, only then it can be stayed. No

NEW DELHI: Farmer leaders on Monday said they would continue their agitation even if the government or the Supreme Court stays the implementation of the new agri laws.

The farmer leaders, who said they were “sharing their personal opinion”, were also of the view that a stay is “not a solution” as it is only for a fixed period of time.

They were reacting after the Supreme Court indicated that it may stay the implementation of the contentious farm laws and refused to grant more time to the Centre to explore the possibility of an amicable solution saying it has already granted the government a “long rope”.

“We welcome the Supreme Court observation, but ending the protest is not an option. Any stay is only for a fixed period of time... till the issue is taken up by the court again,” Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union President Gurnam Singh Chaduni said.

The farmers want the laws to be repealed completely. The protest will continue even if the government or the Supreme Court stays their implementation, he said.

Bhog Singh Mansa, president of Indian Farmers Union (Mansa), said a stay on the laws is “no big deal”.

“A stay is not a solution. We are here to get these laws scrapped completely... the government has in a way already agreed to scrap the laws when it said it is willing to incorporate as many amendments as farmers want,” he said.

“We appeal to the Supreme Court to terminate these laws as these are not valid constitutionally,” Mansa said, adding the protest will continue till the “the laws are not repealed or the BJP government completes its tenure”.

Punjab Kisan Union president Ruldu Singh Mansa echoed similar sentiments, saying the agitation started with the demand of scrapping the agri laws and “it will end only when we win this fight”.

Darshan Pal, president of Krantikari Kisan Union, said the farmer leaders are consulting their lawyers and a formal response will be given after the SC pronounces its verdict.

Pulling up the Centre for its handling of the farmers’ protest, the apex court on Monday said it is “extremely disappointed” with the way negotiations between them were going and will constitute a committee headed by a former Chief Justice of India to resolve the impasse.

“We are not experts on economy. You tell us whether the government is going to put on hold farm laws or we will do this,” the bench said. “We are sorry to say that the Centre has not been able to solve the problem and the farmers’ agitation,” it said.

A stay is not a solution. We are here to get the farm laws scrapped completely BHOG SINGH MANSA, Indian Farmers Union (Mansa) chief