Supreme Court orders Punjab, Haryana DGPs to discuss partial reopening of Shambhu border

PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court ordered on Monday that the police chiefs of Punjab and Haryana, as well as the SPs of the nearby districts of Patiala and Ambala, meet within a week to discuss the partial reopening of the highway at the Shambhu border, where farmers have been staging protests since February 13.

The court ordered the Punjab government to convince farmers who were staging a demonstration at the Shambhu border to pull their tractors off the road, stating that roads are not meant for parking. The governments of Punjab and Haryana were also thanked by a panel of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan for proposing nonpartisan names for a committee that will interact with the farmers who are protesting.

The bench stated that in order to enable the flow of ambulances, emergency services, senior citizens, women, female students, and local commuters from surrounding districts, a partial opening of the road at the Shambhu border is required.

Also Read: Delhi HC grants Puja Khedkar interim protection from arrest till August 21

“We will pass a brief order on the terms of the panel to be constituted for talking to the protesting farmers,” the court stated.

The Punjab and Haryana governments were previously asked by the top court to recommend names of impartial individuals for an independent committee that would be tasked with reaching out to farmers who were protesting for legal guarantees of minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. The court stated that no one should incite unrest.

It was considering a plea by the Haryana government contesting an order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court for it to take down the barricades where farmers were staging protests at the Shambhu border, close to Ambala, within a week.

Following the announcements made by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) that farmers will march to Delhi in support of their demands, the Haryana government erected barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway in February.

Also Read: Paris Olympics viral moment: British diver Andrea, who missed medal, finds comfort in fathers support | Watch