Plea in SC seeks basic amenities for agitating farmers

An advocate has filed a writ petition in Supreme Court seeking directions to the centre and states of Haryana and Punjab to consider the demands of the farmers who have been protesting at Delhi border for more than a week against the recently enacted farm laws. The petition also sought basic amenities to protesting farmers and enquiry into police excesses against farmers.

New Delhi: A writ petition filed in the Supreme Court sought directions to the centre and the states of Haryana and Punjab to consider the demands of the farmers who have been protesting at Delhi border for more than a week now against the recently enacted farm laws. The petitioner, Advocate GS Mani, has sought arrangements of adequate facilities, basic amenities like shelter, food, drinking water, medical and sanitation, for the farmers along with ensuring free movement at borders.

He has prayed for directions to the National Human Right Commission to submit a report as well on violation of human rights by police brutal attack and providing the farmers with compensation.

"Because the respondent's government machinery totally failed in making public and farmers aware about the government policy on the open market operating in each district and failed to seek their response before enacting farm bills namely "Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitiation) Act,2020" in the Parliament," read the plea.

Petitioner contends that farmers are compelled to go for a peaceful protest because the right to judicial review is taken out from the purview of the Act and limited the appeal of disputes to the Divisional Magistrate.

There was no discussion or debate in the Parliament before passing the laws, there is no provision of fixing MSP in the Act, farm bills did not go to the Parliamentary committee, and farmers believe that the open market will create monopoly without any government control.

He contends that under Article 12 the government is bound to protect and fulfil the demands of the farmers through a conciliatory talk and provide basic amenities to them.

"A serious threat to the life, liberty and livelihood of fellow farmers persist and exists. If government keep silence and unwilling to take any action seriously over the Farmers Protest, the innocent farmers would be put to hardships, irreparable loss and injuries," read the plea.

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