LIVE: SC to pronounce orders on Tuesday on pleas challenging farm laws

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: "Whether you have faith or not, we are the Supreme Court of India, we will do our job", SC tells farmer unions

Farmers' protest LIVE updates: Hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders, the Supreme Court on Monday said it was disappointed with the way negotiations between the government and the farmers have progressed.

"What is going on? States are rebelling against your laws", a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde told the Centre. We are extremely disappointed with the negotiation process.

The apex court asked the Centre to stay the laws till a committee constituted by it discusses the same and submits a report. 

"We are not experts on economy; you tell us whether govt is going to put on hold farm laws or we will do this, the court said.

To the protesting farmers, the court said, "Whether you have faith or not, we are the Supreme Court of India, we will do our job".
 

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, are staying put at various border points of Delhi since late November last year to protest against the laws.

The eighth round of talks between the Centre and the farmer unions on January 7 appeared heading nowhere as the Centre ruled out repealing the contentious laws while the farmer leaders said they are ready to fight till death and their 'ghar waapsi' will happen only after 'law waapsi'.

The Monday hearing in the Supreme Court assumes significance as the Centre and the farmer leaders are scheduled to hold their next meeting on January 15.

2:04 AM

Centre moves SC against proposed farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day

The Centre on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor or trolley march or any other kind of protest which seeks to disrupt the august gathering and celebrations of the Republic Day on January 26.
 

In an application filed through the Delhi Police, the Centre has said that it has come to the knowledge of the security agencies that a small group of protesting individuals or organisations have planned to carry out a tractor march on Republic Day.
 

"It is submitted that the proposed march is slated to disturb and disrupt the august celebrations of nation on Republic Day and would be bound to create a massive law and order situation," the application said.
 

"It is submitted that the said proposed march/protest seeks to disrupt and disturb such celebrations which is bound to create a serious law and order situation and will cause an embarrassment to the nation," it said.
 

It said that right to protest is always subject to the "countervailing public order and the public interest" and the right to protest can never include "maligning the nation globally".
 

"It is submitted that the Republic day function on January 26 each year has its own constitutional as well as historical significance. The January 26 Republic Day ceremony is not an isolated standalone ceremony rather a grand rehearsal takes place on January 23 where everything which is to happen on January 26 of each year is rehearsed," the application said.
 

"Any disruption or obstruction in the said functions would not only be against the law and order, public order, public interest but would also be a huge embarrassment for the nation," it said while referring to the Republic Day ceremony.
 

 

2:03 AM

Villagers protesting against farmers' stir return home

A day after blocking traffic on one carriageway of Jaipur-Delhi National Highway alleging that protesting farmers were creating unemployment and littering garbage in adjoining fields, local villagers returned home on Monday after Haryana police opened a slip lane on the highway.
 

On Sunday, locals near agitation site in Shajahanpur of Rajasthan's Alwar had pitched tents on one carriageway of the highway against the farmers' agitation.
 

Sumer Singh, a protesting villager said their work and employment have been adversely affected due to the farmers' blockade and demanded its immediate removal.
 

Farmer leader Rampal Jat, however, asserted that it is the Haryana police and not the agitating farmers who have blocked the highway as farmers wanted to march to Delhi but Haryana the police have erected barricades to stop them.
 

“Protesting villagers should put pressure on the Haryana police for removing blockade," he added.
 

Bhiwadi SP Ram Murti Joshi said senior officials of the Rajasthan and Haryana police met on late Sunday evening and discussed the issues with farmers and villagers after which slip lane on the highway in Shahjahanpur was opened by Haryana police.
 

The road was closed on December 31 after several farmers had forcibly crossed into Haryana border.
 

"The tension has eased after the opening of the slip lane and now there are no villagers on the highway," he said.

2:03 AM

Farmers threaten to 'gherao' UP Raj Bhavan

A section of farmers protesting against the three central farm laws on Monday threatened to ‘gherao' Uttar Pradesh Raj Bhavan on January 23.
 

Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Dharmendra Malik in a statement said the agitating farmers would also burn copies of farm legislation on that day.
 

Malik said the BKU executive committee, in a meeting at Ghazipur-UP gate border, also decided to observe January 18 as Mahila Kisan Divas (Women Farmers' Day) during which the womenfolk of villages would lead the ongoing protest against the government.
 

Referring to some observations by the Supreme Court during the hearing of a bunch of petitions against the farm laws, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said these remarks by the apex court were a “slap” on the face of the government and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar should resign on moral grounds after these remarks.

2:02 AM

Argentine farmers continue sales strike despite new corn export policy

Argentine farmers said on Monday they would continue their ban on selling crops despite the government's decision to amend the corn export suspension that has triggered a sales strike in the South American grains powerhouse.
 

The government replaced the two-month export suspension with a temporary daily limit of 30,000 tonnes of corn that can be sold into the international market. But the country's main farm groups said they objected to the new policy as well.
 

"For us, it's the same," said the president of the Argentine Rural Society (SRA), Daniel Pelegrina, in an interview with the local news site Canal Rural, on Twitter.

He said the SRA would continue the ban on sales.
 

The Argentine Rural Confederation (CRA) announced, also by way of Twitter, that it would continue the sales strike.
 

"This kind of government intervention in the market alters the rules and undermines growers' confidence, generating uncertainty about next season's sowing," CRA said in a tweet.

11:04 PM

Haaryana CM has lost 'lost faith of people', he must resign: Congress

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar should resign as he has "lost the faith of the people" and the moral authority to rule after farmers did not allow his chopper to land during an event in Karnal: Congress

9:52 PM

Centre files affidavit before SC, says repeal demand by farmers not acceptable

Union of India files an affidavit in SC, after hearing concluded in farmers' issue today. It submitted that the Acts received wide acceptance across the country & some farmers & others objecting, had put a condition of repeal, it's neither justifiable nor acceptable.

9:36 PM

Bhupinder Singh Hooda asks Haryana CM to ask Centre to repeal farm laws

Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda asks Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to convince Centre to repeal new farm laws instead of proposing to hold programmes like in Karnal

8:47 PM

Farmers protest: We don't want anybody's blood on our hands, says SC

We don't want anybody's blood on our hands," said the Supreme Court on Monday while expressing apprehension that the ongoing farmers' protest against the new farm laws might lead to violence and loss of lives and property if it continues for long. The apex court, which observed that the Centre has made these laws without enough consultation, said the most serious concern is about any sort of violence and possible loss of lives.

 

Responsibility is on all of us. Any stray incident can spark violence, said a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde. Each one of us will be responsible if something goes wrong. We don't want anybody's blood on our hands," said the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

 

The bench said it is not going to protect any law breakers and want to prevent any loss of lives and property. The top court, which was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones raising issues related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders, expressed its displeasure that the Centre has not been able to solve the problem.

8:25 PM

Sonia Gandhi speaks to opposition leaders to plan joint strategy over farm laws

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has spoken to leaders of opposition parties to plan out a joint strategy in the budget session of Parliament regarding the Centre's new farm laws, sources said on Monday. A meeting will also be held over the new laws before the start of Parliament session later this month, they said.

 

Congress is supporting agitation by farmers against new farm laws. The party has said it will stage protests outside governor houses across the country on January 15 to extend support to the ongoing farmers' agitation. The party is observing the day as 'Kisan Adhikar Diwas'.

 

The party has also decided to bring like-minded opposition parties on one platform to discuss the farm laws before the start of the budget session of the Parliament. Congress-ruled Punjab and Rajasthan have passed bills to counter Centre's farm laws.

7:50 PM

800 farmers booked for violence in Haryana's Karnal

A day after farmers indulged in vandalism at a public function's venue in Karnal district of Haryana, in which Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was to participate, police on Monday booked over 800 farmers for the incident.

 

The 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' programme slated to be attended by Khattar in a Karnal village was cancelled after protesting farmers opposed to the Centre's three new agricultural laws created a ruckus at the venue.

 

The Chief Minister had accused Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) President Gurnam Singh Charuni, the opposition Congress, and the Left for "instigating" people to indulge in vandalism.

 

Earlier, Charuni had threatened to oppose the 'Kisan Mahapanchayat'.

7:35 PM

The matter of farm laws is before SC: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

7:01 PM

SC to pronounce orders on Tuesday on farm laws, farmers' protests

The Supreme Court will pronounce orders on Tuesday on various issues related to the new farm laws and the farmers' ongoing protest at Delhi borders and may take a call on setting up of a committee headed by a former Chief Justice of India (CJI) to find ways to resolve the impasse.

 

A bench, headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, which indicated during the hearing that it may pass orders in parts on the issues concerning farm laws and farmers' protest, later uploaded the information on the website. List these matters tomorrow i.e. 12.01.2021, for orders, said the bench which also comprised justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.'

 

The bench on Monday heard a clutch of pleas challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones raising issues of citizens' right to move freely during the ongoing farmers' stir.

 

It pulled up the Centre for its handling of the farmers protest against the new farm laws saying it is extremely disappointed with the way negotiations between them were going. It also indicated amply that it may go to the extent of staying the implementation of the contentious farm laws and refused to grant extra time to the Centre to explore the possibility of amicable solution saying it has already granted the government a long rope.

6:38 PM

SC to pronounce order tomorrow on pleas challenging farm laws and those relating to farmers' protest

6:31 PM

SC questions Centre's opposition on its suggestion to stay implementation of farm laws

The Supreme Court Monday questioned the Centre's vehement opposition to its suggestion that the implementation of three new farm laws be held back for the time being so as to help find an amicable solution to the ongoing farmers' protest against them at Delhi borders.

 

While rapping the Centre for its handling of farmers' protest against the new laws, the apex court said that either the implementation of these statutes be held back or the top court itself will proceed to do so on the recommendation of a court-appointed committee which is to be constituted.

 

We don't see why there is an insistence on implementation of the law, a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said, adding, We are not experts on economy and you (Centre) tell us whether you are going to hold on these laws or we will do this.

 

Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, that a law cannot be stayed unless the court finds it violates fundamental rights or constitutional schemes. A law cannot be stayed by the Supreme Court unless the Lordships find that it violates the fundamental rights or constitutional schemes. Law has to be without the power to legislate, only then it can be stayed. No petitioners have raised any such issues, Venugopal said.

5:54 PM

'Don't lecture us on patience..': Top five observations by CJI on farm laws case

Here are five of the CJI's other critical observations during the hearing:

 

1."We don't know whether you are part of the solution or the problem. There is not a single petition filed here which says the laws are beneficial," the Chief Justice said as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta attempted to make some submissions insisting on the implementation of the farm laws.

 

2. "All of us have a heavy responsibility to ensure things don't go wrong. We don't want blood of any one on our hands," the Chief Justice said, underscoring that any stray incident in the peaceful protest can lead it to the opposite direction, which may lead to loss of life and property.

 

3. "Sorry to say, we are because you, as the Union of India, did not take responsibility. You were not able to solve the problem... You should have been able to solve the strike, but you did not," the CJI said as the Attorney General, reacting to his statement: " We will stay implementation if the Centre doesn't do it", said the court may be on the brink of a drastic decision.

 

4. "Right to protest is intact. Right to protest should be exercised like Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha. Do it peacefully," the Chief Justice said, while declining to entertain Centre's arguments on the course of evolution of farm laws in the previous governments, on the grounds that they cannot blame the previous governments.

 

5. "... we are disappointed in the way you're handling this situation. States are up in rebellion against you," CJI Bobde told the government, stressing that the ongoing farmers' protest is a delicate matter.