Deal with law and order situation with iron hand: SC to Punjab govt on medical aid to farmer leader Dallewal

The top court was hearing a contempt plea against the chief secretary for non-compliance with the order on medical aid to farm leader Dallewal.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Punjab government to ensure medical treatment to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, saying if some people created law and order problem, they must be dealt with an iron hand.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia told Punjab's Advocate General Gurminder Singh, "Please take it very seriously, somebody's life was at stake. Perhaps, you are not taking it seriously, otherwise, you would have given medical aid to him by now."

The court sought a compliance report from the state government by Saturday as a contempt petition was filed against the Punjab government.

Issuing notice in the matter, the bench also sought personal presence of Punjab DGP and the Chief Secretary before it.

The Advocate General said Punjab's cabinet minister went to meet Dallewal and was handed over a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, saying if the Centre intervened, the situation would be diffused.

He pointed out Dallewal said if some dialogue could get opened up, he was willing to co-operate for medical aid.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted few people can't hold him hostage when his life was in danger.

"The moment he is fine, we will hear his view point," the bench said.

Mehta said the state government could make sure that he was shifted from the protesting site to the hospital.

The Advocate General indicated about jostling which may happen if Dallewal is shifted.

"We have serious doubts about the farmers who are not conscious and concerned about his life," the bench said.

On December 20, the bench had asked the Punjab government to ensure no harm was caused to the health of farmers' leader Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death since last 24 days at the Khanauri border.

The bench said 70-year-old Dallewal could be moved to the makeshift hospital set up within 700 metres of the protest site at Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana.

Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast at the Khanauri border since November 26 to press the Centre into accepting the agitating farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) on crops.

On December 19, the Supreme Court asked the Punjab government to convince Dallewal to undergo a health examination.

The court also pulled up the Punjab government for not conducting medical tests on Dallewal, who is on an indefinite fast at Punjab-Haryana Khanauri border.