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The farmers want the laws to be repealed completely.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