Shambhu border row: SC asks Punjab, Haryana govt to find solutions, cites trust deficit between farmers and govt

The apex court proposed that a committee be constituted by eminent personalities who will reach out to farmers and other stakeholders in the matter in order to reach a viable solution.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Punjab and the Haryana governments to find ways and means to solve the issue of farmers protesting at Shambhu border, citing the trust deficit between them and the ruling dispensation.

The top court also suggested to form a committee of independent persons who can negotiate with the farmers, protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan stressed that the Punjab and Haryana governments have to find a resolution to the issues after talking to them.

It said that the committee has to be constituted with eminent persons who can reach out to farmers and other stakeholders in order to find out a viable solution to their demands that can be fair, just and in the interests of everyone.

"You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending ministers from here and despite their best intentions, there is trust deficit. They will think you are only talking about self interests and ignoring local issues. Why don't you send a neutral umpire?" the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Haryana government.

Mehta said that there was no problem in them coming to Delhi but they want to come with armoured tractors and JCBs.

"We cannot afford untoward things when dealing with sensitive matters. The vehicles are prohibited on the highways," he said.

Punjab's Advocate General Gurminder Singh said the highway blockade is resulting in huge ramifications for the state economically, though they are within the rights to regulate.

The court said, "Let appropriate instructions be taken within a week. Till then, let parties maintain status quo at the site to prevent any flaring up of the situation."

The court was hearing a plea by the Haryana government challenging the high court's order asking it to remove within a week the barricading at the Shambhu border near Ambala where farmers have been camping since February 13.

The Punjab and Haryana HC had on July 10, ordered the Haryana government to clear within a week the barricading at the Shambhu border.

In its appeal filed before the apex court, the Haryana government has cited law and order situation for the blockade.

On July 12, the high court had told the Haryana government to clear the barricading at Shambhu border near Ambala, saying, farmers, protesting over there are also citizens of the country.

The court asked how a state government could block a highway when its duty is to regulate traffic.

The farmers’ have been camping at the border since February, this year, in order to march to Delhi demanding a guarantee for MSP among others.