Pulling up the government for its handling of the farmers' issue, the Supreme Court on Monday said that it was extremely disappointed with the way negotiations are going on between the Centre and the farmers on the new farm laws, against which several farmer organisations are staging protest at Delhi borders. While hearing several pleas challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones raising issues related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders, Chief Justice SA Bobde said, “If the Centre does not want to stay the implementation of the ordinances, we will put a stay on it.”
The bench comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian asserted that each one of us will be responsible if something goes wrong. “Some people have committed suicide, old people and women are a part of the agitation. What is happening? We don’t want anybody’s blood on our hands”, it stated.
Quotable quotes from the hearing
CJI Bobde said, “if the Centre does not want to stay the implementation of farm laws, we will put a stay on it.”
"What is going on? States are rebelling against your laws", a bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde told the Centre.
“We don’t know what negotiations are going on? Can the farm laws be put on hold for some time?” asked the. Chief Justice.
Coming down heavily on the Centre, CJI Bobde further said, “You (Centre) have not handled this properly, we will have to take some action today.”
“We are doing this because you (Centre) have failed to solve the problem. Union of India has to take responsibility. The laws have resulted into a strike and now you have to solve the strike”, Bar and Bench quoted the CJI as saying.
"Farmers can carry on the protest, but the question is whether the protest should be held at the same site?" asked the apex court.
“This is a very delicate situation, the court said, adding, there is not a single petition before us which says that these farm laws are beneficial,” the court said.
“The Union of India must take responsibility for all this. You (Centre) are bringing the laws and you can do it in a better manner”, Bobde said.
