Supreme Court seeks farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's health reports to get AIIMS medical board's opinion

The top court also noted the Punjab government's submission that authorities are in deliberations with the protesting farmers and they are hopeful of a solution.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed its displeasure over the Punjab government's claim over "improvements" in health parameters of farmers leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, on a fast for nearly 50 days, and asked the Punjab government to furnish a copy of his health reports, to be examined for an opinion from the medical board of AIIMS.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh wondered how a person who had been on a fast for nearly 50 days had his health parameters improving.

The bench asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Punjab government, “How can it happen… You are there, and on one hand, you are saying that your doctors are there…We like to know how the parameters are improving”.

The bench pointed out he has been fasting for 49 days, and asked how his health parameters are improving.

Sibal clarified that the parameters are stable and not improving.

“Last time you gave a chart to us, your averment was that they were improving," the bench told him.

The bench was informed that a medical board was constituted by the Punjab government for the comprehensive medical examination of Dallewal.

“So, according to you, the platelets, which were 2,22,000 on December 24, 2024, have now improved to 2,54,000,” the bench quizzed Sibal.

The bench sought a complete set of health reports of Dallewal.

The bench asked the Punjab government chief secretary to submit Dallewal’s test reports during the course of the day with the apex court registrar.

The court directed its registrar to communicate the reports to the AIIMS director for an opinion on Dallewal’s test reports from the medical board.

The apex court referred to the comparative chart of investigation based on blood samples of Dallewal taken on three dates in December 2024 and January 2025.

“We direct the chief secretary to hand over a complete set of these reports to enable this court to take an opinion on the medical/health condition of Dallewal from the medical board that may be asked to be constituted by the director of AIIMS, Delhi. The report shall be submitted to the registrar judicial during the day, who shall coordinate with the director of AIIMS and obtain the opinion of experts based on these reports,” the bench said in its order.

Sibal contended that some progress has been made in connection with the shifting of Dallewal to a makeshift hospital, which has now been set up 10 meters from the protest site. He also informed the bench that representatives of the central government are also meeting the protesting farmers.

The bench noted that Sibal has submitted that some active steps have taken place and there is progress in the matter. The apex court fixed the matter for further consideration on January 22.

Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) (non-political), has been on indefinite hunger strike since November 26, 2024.

He refused medical aid offered by the Punjab government, and his health deteriorated recently. Farmers, under the banners of SKM and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024 over various demands, including legal guarantee for the minimum support price of their produce.