The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday suggested that Punjab and Haryana establish a committee to address the ongoing farmers’ issues, emphasizing a “trust issue” between the governments and the farmers.
A bench comprising 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 directing the unblocking of the Shambhu border. The border had been closed in February to stop protesting farmers from moving from Punjab to Haryana.
During the hearing, the bench inquired whether any efforts had been made to negotiate with the farmers, highlighting the trust deficit and suggesting that neutral parties could help build confidence. The court stressed the need for confidence-building measures and questioned the initiatives taken by the governments to engage with the farmers.
The court scheduled the next hearing for the following week and directed both states to maintain the status quo at the protest site. Additionally, the court asked both states to propose a plan to remove the barricades at the Shambhu border to minimize inconvenience to the public.
