News Agencies: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed disappointment over the way the Centre has handled talks with farmers’ unions over the three farm laws, which have triggered protests by agriculturists and questioned its consultation process.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde, is hearing a batch of petitions, including those filed by DMK lawmaker Tiruchi Siva and RJD’s Manoj K Jha, against the constitutional validity of three farm laws, along with the plea to remove protesting farmers. “What is going on? States are rebelling against your laws,” the bench told the Centre.
The top court also asked the Centre to make a statement on putting the laws on hold that can give way to the court forming a committee of independent experts to go through the laws threadbare.
“Our intention is to see if we can bring about an amicable resolution of the problem. Why don’t you (Centre) put your laws on hold? If there is some sense of responsibility now, you can say we will not implement our laws. We will have a committee of distinguished officers… Withhold the implementation of laws till there is a discussion by the proposed committee,” it said.
It also pointed out that there is not a single petition before it, which says the laws are beneficial.
Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
