New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday suspended the implementation of the three farm laws and set up a committee to facilitate talks between the central government and farmer unions, in order to to resolve the impasse.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said those “genuinely” interested in finding a solution would appear before the committee.
The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the three farm laws that were enacted last September.
Coming down harshly on the Centre, the bench, headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, Monday questioned the process behind the enactment of the farm laws and expressed deep “disappointment” over the government’s handling of the farm protests.
It suggested the constitution of a committee that “will tell us if the laws are in public interest”.
In response, farmer unions thanked the top court, but turned down the idea of a committee to resolve the issue. They reiterated their demand for a repeal of the laws.
Meanwhile, the Centre filed an affidavit in the Court detailing “two decades of deliberations” that went behind the framing of the laws. It underlined the “serious, sincere and constructive efforts” made by the government to engage with “the limited number” of farmers protesting the laws.
The Centre and farmer unions have engaged in eight rounds of talks so far, but failed to break the impasse. Their next meeting is scheduled on January 15. Farmers are planning to intensify their protests by entering the national capital in a tractor march on Republic Day.