New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure and disappointment over the allegations of bias levelled against members of the committee appointed by it to address grievances of the farmers against the new laws.
The bench comprising of Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, and Justices AS Bopanna V Subramanian were hearing a batch of pleas pertaining to farmers' protests going on since November last year. The court had stayed the implementation of the laws and had constituted a committee to address the grievances of the parties affected by the impugned legislation in the last hearing.
However, farmer unions refused to participate in any discussion with the committee alleging that the members had expressed publicly their acceptance of the laws.
The CJI today said that branding has become a cultural thing and that the court does not appreciate it.
"People cast aspersions on people and the court also, if you don't want to appear before the committee we are not forcing you but you can not brand people like this and cast aspersions on the court," the CJI said.
Responding to the public opinion of the committee members, the CJI said that public opinion cannot determine the bias and added that opinions can change.
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Citing the example of judges, the CJI said that many times judges have an opinion which changes after the hearing begins.
On the question of bias, the CJI said that the committee was not granted any adjudicating powers, and they just had to listen to the grievances and prepare a report on what clause is creating problems.
They are the best agricultural minds and you cannot malign their reputation like this, the CJI added.
"We don't understand this, I am very sorry but we don't understand what is appearing in the press," the CJI said.
Talking to Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for some farmers' unions, the court said that he needs to change his attitude towards them and not merely argue for the clients. The court observed that they need a resolution of the dispute.
Explaining the concerns of the farmers, Bhushan submitted before the court that through these protests, farmers are putting up democratic pressure. They are convinced that they need the laws to be repealed and hence do not want any discussion over the amendments.
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Bhushan said that they fear if they end the protest, the matter will be subsided and are apprehensive about what will happen if the court says that the laws are constitutionally valid.
On holding a tractor rally on January 26, Bhushan said that the farmers only want to celebrate Republic Day and will not create any disturbance. The CJI said that the citizens of Delhi should be assured of complete peace. He asked Attorney General KK Venugopal to take instructions from the authorities and said that he trusts Prashant Bhushan's statements on farmers wanting to be peaceful.
The court denied the Delhi police once again today on passing directions against the entry of farmers in Delhi on January 26 and said that they are the executive, they have the power, and the court will not interfere in that.
Notice was issued on an application seeking reconstitution of the committee.
