SC stays farm laws

Top court orders MSP system be maintained, forms 4-member panel to end impasse between farmers and Centre

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of the controversial new farm laws till further orders and constituted a four-member committee to resolve the impasse between the Centre and farmers protesting at Delhi borders braving the harsh winter weather since over 45 days.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde rejected the Centre’s vehement plea that the implementation of new farm laws, enacted by Parliament and having constitutionality, cannot be stayed, and said it was not “completely powerless to grant stay of any executive action under a statutory enactment”.

The bench not only stayed the implementation of these laws but also set up a fourmember committee to resolve the impasse between the Centre and the farmers protesting against them at Delhi’s borders.

The three-judge bench, also comprising justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, also said, “As a consequence, the Minimum Support Price system in existence before the enactment of the farm laws shall be maintained until further orders. In addition, the farmers’ land holdings shall be protected, ie, no farmer shall be dispossessed or deprived of his title as a result of any action taken under the farm laws”.

The bench said the court-appointed committee shall hear the government as well as the representatives of farmers’ bodies and other stakeholders and submit a report before the apex court containing its recommendations within two months from the date of its first sitting at Delhi.

Agitating farmer unions, however, disapproved of the committee appointed by the Supreme Court to break the deadlock and said they will continue their protest against the three legislations. Addressing a press conference at Singhu Border in Delhi, union leaders claimed the members of the committee are “pro-gov