The Supreme Court on Thursday clarified that its orders to provide medical aid to fasting farmers' leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal should not be construed as having been passed with the intent to break his fast. .Dallewal has been on fast as part of the ongoing farmers' protests demanding minimum support price for crops.A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia said Dallewal need not be concerned that the farmers' protests would be weakened if he were to get medical help. The Court also criticised media reports and actions or inaction by the Punjab government that may have given an impression that the extension of such medical aid to Dallewal may be used to break up the ongoing protests. "There is a deliberate attempt in the media by your State (Punjab) government officers to give an impression that the Court is pressuring him (Dallewal) to break the fast. Our directions were not to break his fast. We just said let his health be taken care of and then his fast can go on. Shifting to hospital does not mean fast is broken. Our concern is no harm to his life. His life is precious as a farm leader. He is not aligned to any political ideologies, he is only taking the farmers' cause," the Court remarked. .Representing the Punjab government, Advocate General (AG) Gurminder Singh assured the Court that a committee has been constituted with relevant stakeholders and the State has been trying to ensure that Dallewal gets the necessary help. "(The State is) not taking any sides. Issue is, we have tried to convince him to take medical help. People are on site. He is of the firm opinion, which was communicated to mediators, media ... that he will accept medical help subject to some intervention (talks with the relevant government regarding the farmers' demands)," the AG said. However, Justice Kant questioned the State on whether it has properly conveyed that it was open to resolving the farmer's problems."Have you ever told him that a committee was formed just for this purpose? Don't make us say things .. Your attitude is that there should be no conciliation. That is the problem ... There are people making irresponsible statements and we know the intentions. There are farm leaders who are doing this. What are their bonafides for Mr. Dallewal should also be looked into," the judge remarked. "Our officers are there on ground. Give us some reasonable time. We are trying to work out a positive situation," the AG eventually requested the Court. The Court, in turn, agreed to defer further hearing of the matter till January 6, Monday. "We will keep this on Monday. We will also see the compliance affidavit by the chief secretary on Monday," it said. .The Court was hearing a contempt of court petition filed against the Chief Secretary of State of Punjab for not complying with a December 20 order of the top court wherein the State was asked to convince fasting farmers' leader to go to a hospital.The Court was later informed that Dallewal was rejecting efforts to give him medical aid on concerns that it may weaken the farmers' movement. During a December 28 hearing, the State added that other farmers were keeping a vigil to prevent attempts to give medical aid to Dallewal. The State was left helpless, the AG had said."If State machinery says you are helpless, then do you know what is the repercussion? Court is not saying use unwanted force," the Bench had replied at the time. When the matter was heard last on December 31, 2024, the State had indicated that Dallewal may agree to accept medical aid if the Central government shows readiness to talk with the protesting farmers. Since the deadlock is yet to be resolved, the Court today asked that efforts be made to inform the fasting leader that the receipt of medical aid will not be exploited to weaken the protests. Once Dallewal's health is taken care of, he could continue his fast with medical support to ensure that his life is not in danger, the Court observed today before adjourning the hearing till Monday. .[Read Live Coverage]
