The Apex Court has ordered a stay on the three farm laws that have led thousands of farmers to hold protests. This order by the Supreme Court can be termed an initial victory for the farmers who have been protesting for almost fifty days braving the cold weather in Delhi. Chief Justice of India SA Bobde stayed the farm laws until further orders, adding that a committee of agricultural experts would hold negotiations with the farmers, in order to resolve the issue.
Hearing the issue on Monday, the Supreme Court made it clear that a committee is set up immediately and that farmers’ issues are looked into. In this scenario, the Supreme Court also found fault with the Centre for having failed to address the issue much earlier. The court also responded strongly saying that if the Centre cannot, then they would intervene and take action. However, the lawyer arguing on behalf of the government had requested the court against staying the farm laws.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court in its hearing, set up a four-member committee to give a report o the court on the farm laws. President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and Chairman of the Kisan Coordination Committee – Bhupender Singh Mann, Anil Ghanvat of Shetkari Sangathan, Agricultural Economist Ashok Gulati and Policy Expert Pramod K Joshi of International Food Policy Research Institute are the members in the committee.
