Farmers' protest highlights: Farmer leaders consult lawyers, refuse to appear before a SC-appointed committee

Amid the ongoing deadlock between the Centre and farmers, the Supreme Court is hearing a clutch of pleas challenging the farm laws, as well as the ones raising issues related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders. The Supreme Court said that it is “extremely disappointed” with the way negotiations are going on between the Centre and the farmers on the new farm laws, against which several farmer organisations are protesting at Delhi borders. The next round of talks is likely to be held on January 15.

Instead of Karnal prog, Khattar should convince Centre to repeal farm laws: Hooda

Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday asked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to convince the Centre to repeal the new farm laws instead of proposing to hold programmes like in Karnal.

Agitating farmers had on Sunday ransacked the venue of the 'kisan mahapanchayat' programme at Kaimla village in Karnal, where Khattar was to address the gathering to highlight the "benefits" of the three contentious central agriculture laws.

The Haryana Police had used water cannons and lobbed teargas shells to prevent the farmers from marching towards Kaimla village.

Farmer leaders consult lawyers, refuse to appear before a Supreme Court-appointed committee on farm laws

'We don't want anybody’s blood on our hands', warns Supreme Court on farmers' protests

Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over the ongoing farmers' protests and said it has "apprehension" that there may be a breach of peace and warned saying, "We don't want anybody’s blood on our hands”.

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Legislations cannot be stayed by SC unless prima facie unconstitutional, say experts

Parliamentary legislations cannot be stayed by the Supreme Court unless it is satisfied prima facie that they are unconstitutional and illegal, legal experts said on Monday.

They largely concurred with the views of Attorney General K K Venugopal who on Monday opposed the apex court observation on stay of implementation of controversial farm laws.

Venugopal said such an order can only be passed when there was prima facie materials to show that they violated fundamental rights of citizens or constitutional schemes and have been farmed without the legislative competence of Parliament.

PM should apologise to farmers after Supreme Court rap; repeal farm laws: Congress

The Congress on Monday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to the farmers of the country and repeal the three farm laws which are being opposed by them, after the Supreme Court rapped the Centre over the handling of the agitation.

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Congress MPs, former Akali leader walk out from panel meeting on agriculture

Congress MPs Partap Singh Bajwa and Chhaya Verma and former Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Monday staged a walkout from a meeting of the Standing Committee on Agriculture after the panel chairman refused to discuss Centre's three farm laws and their aftermath, sources said.

Citing the large-scale protests undertaken by various farmer unions that have seen thousands of farmers protest at the borders of Delhi for over 40 days, the three Rajya Sabha MPs raised the issue with the chairman of the standing committee.

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SC to pronounce Tuesday its order on pleas challenging farm laws and those relating tofarmers' protest.

SC questions Centre’s opposition on its suggestion to stay implementation of farm laws

The Supreme Court Monday questioned the Centre’s vehement opposition to its suggestion that the implementation of three new farm laws be held back for the time being so as to help find an amicable solution to the ongoing farmers’ protest against them at Delhi borders.

While rapping the Centre for its handling of farmers' protest against the new laws, the apex court said that either the implementation of these statutes be held back or the top court itself will proceed to do so on the recommendation of a court-appointed committee which is to be constituted.

BJP govt adopting indifferent attitude towards farmers: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said the "indifferent" attitude adopted by the BJP government towards farmers is a "direct insult" to them.

"The way the BJP government adopted an indifferent attitude towards farmers by being insensitive to them is a direct insult to 'annadata' (farmers). This is extremely condemnable," Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi.

If they can spot smoke elsewhere, why cannot they see the fire at their own home, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

Sewadars from Sisganj Gurudwara polish shoes of protesting farmers at Singhu border

In the spirit of community service, a group of volunteers from the Sisganj Gurudwara in Delhi's Chandni Chowk are offering to polish shoes of farmers protesting the Centre's new farm laws at Singhu border for free.

The sewadars, which also include a woman, sit on the ground and urge people to offer their 'jodas' (shoes) while they wait in front of their makeshift counter, on the Haryana side of the Singhu border, close to a tent where farmer leaders speak vociferously against the new farm laws, reiterating demands for repealing them.

Staying implementation of farm laws not a solution, say Farmer leaders

Farmer leaders on Monday said they would continue their agitation even if the government or the Supreme Court stays the implementation of the new agri laws.

The farmer leaders, who said they were "sharing their personal opinion", were also of the view that a stay is "not a solution" as it is only for a fixed period of time.

They were reacting after the Supreme Court indicated that it may stay the implementation of the contentious farm laws and refused to grant more time to the Centre to explore the possibility of an amicable solution saying it has already granted the government a “long rope”.

Consider letter as resignation if Centre fails to withdraw farm laws by Jan 26: Abhay Singh Chautala to speaker

INLD legislator Abhay Singh Chautala wrote to the Haryana Assembly speaker on Monday, saying if the Centre does not withdraw the three recent farm laws by January 26, then his letter may be considered as his resignation as an MLA from the House.

In a letter to Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, Chautala, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA from Haryana's Ellenabad, slammed the Centre for imposing the "black laws" on farmers in an "undemocratic way" and said the farming community in the entire country is opposing these legislations.

SC suggests committee to resolve farm laws deadlock

Supreme Court on Monday recommended a committee to resolve the ongoing deadlock between the farmers and the Centre.

SC also expressed concern over the state of protesting farmers, urging senior citizens to return home.

It said the court will stay the implementation if the committee panel advises.

Supreme Court on Monday suggested that it may order a stay on the implementation of the farm laws to maintain peace and avoid breaking of laws. According to Live Law, the complete order is likely to be released at the end of the day.

Supreme Court observes that the new three agriculture laws have been implemented without enough consultations.

"We are suggesting staying the implementation of farm laws only to facilitate the talks before the Committee," the CJI said. "We don't want to say anything, the protests can go on, but who is going to take the responsibility?"

Govt should leave its stubborn attitude, resolve farmers' issues: BKU chief

Bharatiya Kisan Union president Naresh Tikait has said the central government should abandon its "stubborn" attitude and resolve the issues of farmers through dialogue.

Speaking to reporters at the BKU headquarters at Sisoli near here on Sunday evening, he said farmers are aware that the three new agri laws have been brought by the Centre "to benefit big corporates" and are "against peasants".

He also accused the government of maintaining a stubborn attitude while farmers have long been protesting on roads.

Sachin Pilot reiterates demand for repeal of farm laws

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Monday reiterated the demand for withdrawal of new farm laws enacted by the Centre, claiming that the laws were a "threat" to the future of farmers.

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CJI tells AG : We are extremely disappointed at the way government is handling all this (farmers protests). We don't know what consultative process you followed before the laws. Many states are up in rebellion. (Live Law)

Supreme Court on farm laws: 10 things to know

The Supreme Court of India on Monday hinted that it would stay the implementation of farm laws if the Centre doesn't. While hearing a batch of petitions against the new farm laws and protests being held in the national capital, the Supreme Court said there is not a single petition before the apex court that says that these farm laws are beneficial to farmers.

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Indian National Lokdal leader Abhay Singh Chautala writes to Haryana Assembly Speaker, says, "If by 26th January the Centre does not take back the farm laws, then, this letter should be considered as my resignation from the state assembly".

Repeal 'anti-farmer acts' now: Mamata Banerjee on Lal Bahadur Shastri's death anniversary

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday targetted the Centre over the new farm laws, demanding their withdrawal as she paid tribute to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 55th death anniversary.

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Farmers organize a wrestling competition during their protest against the new farm laws, at the Ghazipur border in New Delhi on January 10, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

Breaking: Supreme Court Hints At Stay The Implementation Of Farm Laws And Formation Of Committee, Will Pass Order

(Live Law)

Let me take a risk and say Chief Justice of India wants them (protesting farmers) to go back to their homes, says CJI SA Bobde

Solicitor General: Your lordships made harsh observations on the handling the situation.

CJI: Why harsh? It was the most innocuous observations possible on the handling of the situation.

Solicitor General : I am urging your lordships to pass an injunction to restrain protests etc disrupting Republic Day. CJI : You file an application to that effect.

(Live Law)

Solicitor General seeks a day's time to suggest names for the Committee. (Live Law)

CJI asks if anyone has an suggestions of any previous Chief Justice who can be in the Committee. Dushyant Dave suggests the name of former CJI RM Lodha, with whom he will talk.

CJI: We had talked to Justice Sathasivam, who himself is now a farmer. But he expressed difficulty saying he does not understand Hindi.

(Live Law)

We are proposing to pass order to facilitate solution to farm laws problem through a Committee to be appointed by us: SC

CJI : We trust senior advocates like Prashant Bhushan, Dave, Phoolka, Gonsalves etc will tell the farmers about the real purpose of the Committee. We are not creating an alternative forum. (Live Law)

Attorney General : They must tell the Committee item by item their grievances. Then the Committee will decide item by item. (Live Law)

Attorney General : When they go before the Committee, will it be their only demand that the laws must be repealed? If they are not prepared to tell their exact grievances, the committee will not be useful.

(Live Law)

Colin Gonsalves says he, Dushyant Dave and HS Phoolka will go to the farmers union today with the Court's views and will come back with their suggestions.

(Live Law)

Attorney General: Staying implementation of law is same as staying. Court cannot do indirectly what it cannot do directly.

CJI: We are conscious of that distinction.

(Live Law)

Attorney General : These laws came into force in June 2020 by way of an Ordinance. After that, more than 2000 farmers entered into contract for selling products in mandis. If the Court stops the implementation, they will lose heavily.

Attorney General : If your lordships stay the law, it will cause tremendous loss to these 2000 farmers.

(Live Law)

CJI : The most serious concern occupying the court is the possible loss of life and property. This is the most important component of our view. (Live Law)

Colin Gonsalves says he, Dushyant Dave and HS Phoolka will go to the farmers union today with the Court's views and will come back with their suggestions. (Live Law)

Court will think of changing the site of protest: CJI

CJI tells Sr Adv Vikas Singh (who appears in a petition against protests) that bench will not alter the previous order that the farmers can continue protests in a peaceful manner. But the Court will think of changing the site of protest.

(Live Law)

We are we suggesting staying the implementation of farm laws only to facilitate the talks before the Committee, says CJI

(ANI)

We don't want to say anything, the protests can go on, but who is going to take the responsibility?, says CJI on farm laws

(ANI)

We are proposing and facilitating to try to form a committee and we are also thinking that we will hold the implementation of the laws till further orders, CJI suggests to one of the petitioners

(ANI)

Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave appearing for one of the farmers' unions suggests that the matter be adjourned for tomorrow; requests the court to consider it.

(ANI)

We do not think the Centre is handling this issue correctly. We have to take some action today. This is a very serious matter, says CJI

(ANI)

Adv MP Devnath submits that he is appearing for Confederation of All India Traders who demand the implementation of laws and they also should be heard before the Committee.

(Live Law)

Mehra : Ego of a certain government is preventing a fair arguments on the matter.

(Live Law)

Mehra : Who is Mr. Salve representing? Is there a government behind him?.

(Live Law)

Rahul Mehra for Delhi Govt thanks the Court for suggesting a 'via media' for the problem. He submits that Centre is creating the stalemate.

(Live Law)

Farm laws: You (Centre) have not handled this properly, we will have to take some action today, says CJI

(ANI)

CJI asks, can the implementation of laws be put on hold for the time being.

(ANI)

Harish Salve submits that there are certain elements which should be weeded out from the protest. He mentions a Vancouver based organization which is collecting money under the banner 'Justice for Sikhs' - Live Law

A law can't be stayed unless court finds it violates fundamental rights or constitutional schemes, AG K K Venugopal tells top court - PTI

Dushyant Dave: If government is really serious, the government can convene a joint session of Parliament to discuss this. I don't know why govt is not doing that - Live Law

Narasimha: Your lordships have made very serious statements today. Your lordships don't pass any order today. Adjourn the matter. Give breathing time for constitutional authorities to deal the matter - Live Law

CJI : Mr Narasimha, even if your argument is valid, it does not help the situation which is on ground now - ANI

Sr Adv PS Narasimha for an intervenor says that there are many other farmers organizations which see the laws as beneficial. The Court does not have their perspective, he says - Live Law

CJ to AG : Mr Venugopal, we don't want to repeat the criticism. But we don't believe that you have been effective in handling the situation.

AG : The farmers must tells us what hurts them.

CJI : They will tell the committee. - Live Law

Dave: Mr Attorney must tell this Court how these laws were passed in Rajya Sabha in a voice vote. Every body knows what happened. What happened in Rajya Sabha is very disturbing - Live Law

Dave: Farmers wanted to go to Ramlila maidan. The Government did not allow that. I don't understand the stand of the govt. It is a place where Vajpayee, JP etc have held historic protests - Live Law

AG wants Dave's statement regarding no tractor rally on Republic day to be recorded.

Dave: Farmers never said they will disrupt Republic Day. They said their families have at least one member in the Army and they respect Republic Day. -Live Law

CJI : Staying the implementation of laws and staying the law are different.

AG : That amounts to the same thing.

CJI : We can always stay executive action under a law. - Live Law

"Whether you have faith or not, we are the Supreme Court of India, we will do our job": SC to farmer unions protesting farm laws - PTI

"We don't know whether people are observing social distancing but we are concerned about them (farmers) getting food and water," says SC - PTI

Dushyant Dave: Your lordship asked why old men and women in protest. No body has brought them. People are coming on their own. It is a question of their very existence - Live Law

CJI : We told last time also Court is not going to decide issues like who should enter Delhi etc. It is for the police to decide - Live Law

Dushyant Dave for a farmers group : We are not going to do that(tractor march on Jan 26)

CJI : We are glad that Dave has said this. -Live Law

AG: On 26th January, 2000 tractors are planning to march to Raj Path to destroy a day of national importance - Live Law

CJI : We should not be understood as saying we are protecting any law breaker. We are not encouraging preventing of laws. In fact, we propose to pass the order to prevent violence and breaking of laws - Live Law

AG says 'unfortunate incidents' happened when the Haryana Chief Minister wanted to meet the protesters. Violence happened and many journalists, including one Supreme Court correspondent, got injured, he adds - Live Law

SC reiterates need for committee on farm laws, says it will stop their implementation if panel advises to do so - PTI

CJI : We are aware of those judgments. We are also aware of the Maratha bench judgment which stayed the implementation of Maratha reservation - Live Law

CJI to AG : We are sorry to say that you, as the Union of India, are not able to solve the problem. You have made a law without enough consultation resulting in a strike. So you have to resolve the strike -ANI

CJI says, if the Centre does not want to stay the implementation of farm laws, we will put a stay on it - ANI

CJI : We will hear at length on the constitutionality later. Not at this moment - Live Law

Sharma says that he has also challenged the constitution amendment which included entry relating to agriculture markets in concurrent list.

CJI : We are not going to stay a 1954 Constitution Amendment. -Live Law

Advocate ML Sharma submits that the protests have been peaceful without violence and it was the police which is causing the problems -Live Law

Salve : If your lordships are staying the laws, then let the farmers call off the protests.

CJI : Mr.Salve, everything cannot be achieved with one order. Farmers will go before the Committee. Court will not pass an order that citizens should not protest. - Live Law

CJI : Farmers are protesting against the laws. Let them tell their grievances before the Committee. We will decide on the laws after the Committee files a report - Live Law

CJI : We have an apprehension that someone will do something a day which will lead to breach of peace. Each one of us will be responsible if something goes wrong, we don't want anybody's blood on our hands - Live Law

CJI : We are not against protests. Don't understand that the Court is stifling protests. But we ask. If after the laws are stayed, will you move the site of protests to accommodate people's concerns - Live Law

CJI : We understand from reports that the talks are breaking down because govt wants clause by clause discussion and farmers want to repeal the whole laws. So, we will stay the implementation till the committee makes discussion. -Live Law

Adv AP Singh, for intervenor, says that they have trust in the govt.

CJI : Whether you have trust in the govt is immaterial. We are the Supreme Court and we will do what we have to do. -Live Law

CJI : We are proposing to set up a committee. We also propose to stay the implementation of the laws. If anyone wants to argue, argue. -Live Law

CJI : We asked you this last occasion. But you haven't replied. And the matter is getting worse. People are committing suicide. People are suffering in the cold. - Live Law

CJI : You tell us if you will put on hold the implementation of the laws. Otherwise we will do it. What is the problem in keeping it in abeyance? -Live Law

SG : Suppose if the vast majority says that why did you put on hold the laws which are beneficial to us just because some group protested?

CJI : We don't want to get into all that. Let the committee discuss all that. -Live Law

SG : We have many farmers organizations coming and tell us that the laws are progressive. Rest of the farmers have no difficulty.

CJI : We don't have any single petition before us saying that the laws are good. - Live Law

CJI : If you have some sense of responsibility, and if you say you will withhold the implementation of laws, we will form committee to decide. We don't see why there should be an insistence that the laws must be implemented at any cost. - Live Law

CJI : Parties have placed the court in a delicate situation. We are reading reports about parties saying courts will decide. - Live Law

AG says that the laws were made on the basis of recommendations of expert committee during last govt regarding the removal of restrictions in the APMC system and to allow direct marketing. Large committees have suggested - Live Law

CJI tells AG: We are extremely disappointed at the way government is handling all this (farmers protests). We don't know what consultative process you followed before the laws. Many states are up in rebellion. -Live Law

Farm laws: It may still be a broken ladder

Theright granted to any farmer or trader to conduct transactions in any trade areahas been the main point of contention in the recent farmers’ protest. This specific partof the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act (FPTC) has been perceived by the farmers - mainly from Punjab and Haryana - as the withdrawal of government’s participation in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market yards.

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DH Toon | 'Tear' gas for farmers, empathisers

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday condemned the use of force against farmers in Haryana, terming it "arrogant and power-drunken" response by the BJP government.

The Haryana Police used water cannons and lobbed teargas shells to prevent protesting farmers from marching towards Kaimla village in Karnal district where Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was to address people to highlight the "benefits" of the Centre's three agriculture laws.

The farmers, however, reached the village and vandalised the venue of the 'kisan mahapanchayat' programme besides damaging the makeshift helipad where Khattar's copter was to land. The CM did not attend the event.

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Bengal govt's decision to bring resolution against farm laws poll gimmick to fool masses: BJP

West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh on Sunday called the TMC government's decision to bring a resolution against the new farm laws a "poll gimmick to fool the masses".

The TMC, on the other hand, said that the BJP's concern for farmers is "fake" as the Centre is not heeding the demands of the agitating farmers.

Ghosh wondered that if the TMC is so concerned for the farmers, then why is it "creating roadblocks" for the implementation of the new agriculture laws. -PTI

Chilla & Ghazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take an alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra & Loni borders: Delhi Traffic Police -ANI

SC to hear pleas on farm laws, ongoing farmers' agitation at Delhi borders on Jan 11

Amid a deadlock in the government's negotiations with protesting farmer unions, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a clutch of pleas challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones raising issues related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders.

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Good morning readers, welcome to DH's live coverage of the farmers' protests.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at various border points of Delhi for over a month and a hafl now, despite the cold weather and heavy rains, to demand the repeal of the three farm laws.