The Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed to Punjab and Haryana to constitute a committee to discuss the farmers' issues, highlighting that there was a "trust issue" between the governments and farmers.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a petition filed by the Haryana government against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which directed it to unblock the Shambhu border. The border was closed in February this year to prevent the movement of protesting farmers from Punjab to Haryana.
During the hearing, the bench asked, "Have you taken any initiative to negotiate with the farmers? Your ministers might go to the farmers without realising the local issues. There is a trust deficit. Why don't you have some neutral umpires? There have to be confidence-building measures."
While scheduling the hearing for next week, the court directed both states to maintain the status quo at the protest site and asked them to propose a plan to remove the barricades at the Shambhu border to prevent inconvenience to the public.
The court also asked Punjab and Haryana to suggest suitable individuals to be included in the committee.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench, "Over 500-600 tanks, which have been modified as armoured tanks, are stationed at the site. If they are allowed to travel to Delhi, law and order situations may arise."
The bench responded, "You need to make some effort. After all, you have to reach out to the farmers. Why would they otherwise need to come to Delhi?"
Mehta replied, "They may come to Delhi, but not in tankers or JCBs."
Justice Surya Kant added, "It is a case of trust deficit. We will think of some independent persons who are neutral to the controversy."
When the Solicitor General pressed for a stay on the Punjab and Haryana High Court order to open the border, Justice Bhuyan said, "You also cannot block the highway. It's been over a year."
Mehta argued further, "As a welfare state, we cannot afford any untoward incident. They are prohibited on a national highway. JCB and other tankers are converted into war tanks. Please see the photos. I am saying this with a sense of responsibility."
Justice Bhuyan told Mehta, "They will have to stay somewhere."
Countering the observations, Mehta said, "There are armoured vehicles, and it has its impact somewhere, such as in the army."
Mehta added that the tractors had been altered as virtual war tanks.
Justice Surya Kant responded, "Mr Solicitor, what you are arguing also shows the trust deficit."
Advocate General of Punjab Gurminder Singh submitted that blocking the NH was affecting the economic health of the State of Punjab.
Earlier this month, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed both states to ensure law and order are maintained and the highway is restored to its original state.
The farmers are planning to march towards Shambhu border to protest for their demands, including a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for certain crops.
