Supreme Court flags trust deficit between protesting farmers and Centre, moots independent committee

The Supreme Court on Wednesday impressed upon the Central government to take steps to reach out to the farmers who are once again planning to march to Delhi to press for their demands [The State Of Haryana v. Uday Pratap Singh].The Bench of Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek instructions regarding constitution of some independent committee, comprising such eminent persons who can reach out to farmers and other stakeholders to find out a viable solution to their demands."You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending Ministers from here and despite their best intentions there is trust deficit. They will think you are only talking about self interests and ignoring local issues. Why don't you send a neutral umpire?," the Court said..The Court further said the States of Punjab and Haryana can also suggest names who can be part of the Committee."We have impressed upon them to have instructions re: constitution of an Independent Committee comprising such eminent persons, who are able to reach out to the agitating farmers, Union of India, the State Governments as also the other stake-holders in order to find out some viable solution of the issues to the extent they are found to be just, fair, feasible and most importantly in the interest of one and all", the Court said in the order.It was hearing the Haryana government’s petition challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s recent direction to open the Shambhu border - which connects Punjab and Haryana. The border had been closed by the Haryana government to prevent movement of protesters towards Delhi..Today, the top court also remarked that the State cannot keep the highway blocked for days on end. “Of course, they (farmers) also cannot protest by JCBs,” Justice Bhuyan said.SG Mehta argued that even a welfare state cannot afford untoward things when dealing with sensitive matters. “JCBs are converted into virtual war tanks! I am saying this with a sense of responsibility. Armoured vehicles we have photographs,” he said.At this stage, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh argued that while Haryana can regulate the movement but the highway blockade was causing losses.“They are well within their rights to regulate. But highway blockade is resulting in huge ramifications for Punjab economically,” Singh said..The Court said it does not want a fight between Punjab and Haryana.“We are proposing a committee to reach out to farmers with consensus of State and Union. To talk to them, get their viewpoints, know and tell them where they are right and wrong,” it remarked.In the order, the Court said both Punjab and Haryana will also discuss and present a proposal remove the barricades in a phased manner so as not to inconvenience the public.“Let us not flare up the situation. We may issue guidelines,” Justice Kant said.It asked the two States to maintain status quo at the Shambhu border site to prevent any flaring up of the situation there."Till such time, it is directed that status quo shall be maintained so that no untoward incident takes place at the Shambhu border. The States of Haryana and Punjab are further directed to submit their respective proposals for the removal of barricades in a phased manner for the free flow of traffic and to redress the inconvenience being experienced by the public at large at the site.".[Read order]