SC Orders Punjab Govt To Shift Fasting Farmer Leader Dallewal To Hospital

Farmer Leader Dallewal

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Punjab government to shift farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is fasting, to a makeshift hospital at the Khanauri border for continuous health monitoring.0000000000000

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan instructed the Advocate General of Punjab, Gurminder Singh, to file an undertaking within the day regarding Dallewal’s transfer to the makeshift facility near the protest site at Khanauri, located at the border between Punjab and Haryana.

The bench was informed by Singh that on Thursday, Dallewal, aged 70, had cooperated with medical tests, including an ECG and blood tests. Singh stated that, as of now, Dallewal’s health condition appeared to be stable.

The court adjourned the matter for further hearing at 2:30 pm, emphasizing the need for Dallewal’s health to be monitored closely during his fast. On Thursday, the bench had cited the example of civil rights activist Irom Sharmila, who had protested for over a decade under medical supervision, and urged the Punjab government to ensure Dallewal undergoes a health examination.

Previously, the bench criticized the government for not conducting medical tests on Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike.

Dallewal began his fast on November 26 at the Khanauri border, demanding that the Centre address the agitating farmers’ key issues, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The farmers, who are part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, after their planned march to Delhi was blocked by security forces.

The Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi National Highway in February, following the announcement of the farmers’ march to Delhi to demand a legal guarantee for MSP.