Noting the trust deficit between farmers and the government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed the formation of an independent committee of eminent individuals to engage with the protesters and address their demands.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant along with Justices Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized the need for a “neutral umpire” to build confidence between the farmers and the government.
“You need to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise come to Delhi? Ministers are being sent, but despite their best efforts, there is a trust deficit,” remarked the bench.
The court instructed that appropriate measures be taken within a week and directed that the parties maintain the status quo at the site to prevent escalation at the Shambhu border.
This decision was made while hearing the Haryana government’s appeal against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order, which mandated the removal of barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala, where farmers have been camping since February 13.
