17:18 (IST)
Sharad Pawar meets Left leaders
NCP president Sharad Pawar met Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja in New Delhi and discussed the ongoing farmers” agitation, reports news agency PTI. “We did discuss the Supreme Court order, informally. But the decision on what has to be done has to be taken by the farmers. They have to react to it. We stand by their demand for the repeal of the laws,” CPI general secretary D Raja said.
The meeting at Pawar”s residence came on a day the Supreme Court indicated that it may stay the implementation of the contentious farm laws and refused to grant more time to the Centre to explore the possibility of an amicable solution, saying it has already granted the government a “long rope”.
The apex court also said it will constitute a committee headed by a former Chief Justice of India to resolve the impasse. Farmer leaders, however, insisted that they will continue their agitation till the laws are repealed. “We know that they have issued a statement. We will wait for their comprehensive reaction before making a comment,” Raja said.
“We know that they have issued a statement. We will wait for their comprehensive reaction before making a comment,” Raja said.
17:14 (IST)
Farmer leaders to give formal response after SC verdict
16:53 (IST)
Staying implementation of farm laws not a solution, say farmer leaders
16:30 (IST)
Opposition to meet before Parliament Session, say reports
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi spoke to several Opposition leaders for formulating a joint strategy on the agricultural laws, reports News18, adding that the Opposition is slated to meet for the same before the Parliament Session. The Centre has said that the Winter Session of the Parliamet will not be held and the Budget Session is scheduled for this month. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) has recommended that the Budget session of Parliament commence from 29 January.
16:10 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
INLD leader threatens to resign from Haryana Assembly
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) general secretary Abhay Singh Chautala has written to Haryana Assembly Speaker, saying that in case the Centre does not repeal the farm laws till 26 January, his letter should be considered as his resignation from the state Assembly.
“If by 26 January the Centre does not take back the farm laws, then, this letter should be considered as my resignation from the state Assembly,” the MLA from Ellenabad said in his letter to Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta. Chautala has been extending support to the ongoing agitation by farmers against the newly-enacted three farm laws.
Last week, the INLD leader visited the Tikri border and met the leaders of the farmer organisations who are protesting against the farm laws. He had said that no farmer organisation of the country had demanded the agricultural laws but the Central government brought the “black laws” to benefit the corporate houses.
Indian National Lokdal leader Abhay Singh Chautala writes to Haryana Assembly Speaker, says, “If by 26th January the Centre does not take back the farm laws, then, this letter should be considered as my resignation from the state assembly”. pic.twitter.com/w7nNQqQEJJ
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2021
15:56 (IST)
Update: Farmers call off press conference
As per reports, farmers’ unions have called off a press conference scheduled for today, as the Supreme Court hearing will continue tomorrow. Earlier, reports had said that protesting farmers would hold a press conference at Delhi’s Singhu border, an hour after the SC hearing concludes.
Update: Since SC to continue hearing matter tomorrow, farmer unions have called off their press conference for today. #FarmLaws #FarmerProtests https://t.co/V25hGznANv
— Poulomi Saha (@PoulomiMSaha) January 11, 2021
15:41 (IST)
Centre should abandon ‘stubborn’ attitude, says BKU chief
15:10 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Country staring at food crisis because of BJP: Mamata
The country is staring at a food crisis because of the “adamant” approach of the BJP to the continued agitation by farmers for withdrawal of the three new farm laws, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.
She also called the BJP a “junk” party for inducting “rotten” leaders from other political outfits.
“The country is staring at a food crisis. If the BJP continues to remain adamant on the farm laws, there will be a food shortage in our country. The farmers are assets of our country and we should not do anything that goes against their interest,” she said.
The TMC supremo also demanded the immediate repeal of the three farm laws, as being demanded by farmers agitating at Delhi’s borders.
15:00 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Sachin Pilot reiterates demand for repeal of farm laws
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Monday reiterated the demand for withdrawal of new farm laws enacted by the Centre, claiming that the laws were a “threat” to the future of farmers.
The Congress leader made the remarks while interacting with farmers in his constituency Tonk.
“This is a matter related to the future of farmers. All farmer unions and opposition parties are united and demanding withdrawal of the laws. It is not clear what the government’s compulsions to bring these laws were. The laws should be withdrawn,” he told reporters.
“We are making the farmers aware of the disadvantages of the laws. The farmers are agitating peacefully and the government should accept their demands,” Pilot said.
-PTI
14:49 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Farmers can continue protests at Delhi border, says CJI
During the hearing earlier today, CJI SA Bobde said the bench will not alter the previous order that the farmers can continue protesting at key entry points to Delhi in a peaceful manner and clarifies that the court will not decide matters like who should enter Delhi. “It is for the police to decide,” he adds.
14:26 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
SC to continue hearing case tomorrow
The apex court will continue hearing the case on Tuesday, according to Bar & Bench.
CJI SA Bobde says an order might be passed today in part and then again tomorrow.
Bench rises for today. Hearing again tomorrow#SupremeCourt #FarmersProtests #FarmLaws
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) January 11, 2021
14:17 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Centre seeks a day’s time to suggest names for committee
“We trust senior advocates like Prashant Bhushan, Dave, Phoolka, Gonsalves, etc will tell the farmers about the real purpose of the Committee. We are not creating an alternative forum”, said CJI Bobde.
Advocate Dave suggests former CJI RM Lodha’s name for the committee, while the Solicitor General seeks a day’s time to suggest names for the committee.
14:09 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Let me take a risk and say CJI wants protesting farmers to go back: SA Bobde
The Supreme Court on Monday, ‘We are proposing to pass an order to facilitate the solution to farm laws problem through a Committee to be appointed by us.’
“Let me take a risk and say Chief Justice of India wants them (protesting farmers) to go back to their homes,” said CJI SA Bobde
13:52 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Court may pass order partially today and in part tomorrow
CJI Bobde lashes out at attorney general when the latter asked him not to pass orders today. “Why not?” asked Bobde. “We have given you a very long rope. Don’t lecture us on patience. We will decide when to pass the order. We might pass in part today and in part tomorrow.”
On the other hand, Solicitor General asks the judges to remove the impression that the Centre has not done enough for the farmers. He says the government gave their best but the farmers were non-cooperative during talks.
13:50 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
If court stays law, it will cause loss to 2,000 farmers
The attorney general says the committee proposed by the apex court will be of no use if the farmers cannot tell it what their grievances are and only insist on repealing the laws. He also adds that if the court stays the law it will cause tremendous loss to 2,000 farmers, reports LiveLaw
Attorney General : If your lordships stay the law, it will cause tremendous loss to these 2000 farmers.#FarmersProtests #FarmLaws#SupremeCourt
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 11, 2021
13:48 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Persuade old people and women to go back home: CJI
CJI asks advocate HS Phoolka to persuade old people and women to go back home
CJI : Mr.Phoolka, passions are running high. But you must tell them to go back. There is cold. There is COVID. It is not necessary that they(old people) should be there at protests.#FarmersProtests #FarmLaws#SupremeCourt
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 11, 2021
13:36 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
SC allows all parties to be heard in the case
CJI says the bench is allowing all impleading applications.#FarmersProtests#FarmLaws #SupremeCourt
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 11, 2021
13:19 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Form committee but don’t stay laws: Centre tells SC
Arguing for the government, Attorney General KK Venugopal said: “You can form a committee but don’t stay the laws.” He referred to past judgments stating courts can’t hold a law without going into its unconstitutionality.
Venugopal also sought to highlight that “only farmers from two or three states are protesting”, that there was no participation from southern or western India.
The government has, in eight rounds of talks with farmer unions, ruled out withdrawing the laws but has reasserted that it is open to amendments.
He also opposed SC’s suggestion to stay the laws, saying that there are precedents that courts cannot stay legislation. “A law can only be stayed if it’s passed without legislative competence, violates fundamental rights or violates provisions of Constitution.”
13:11 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Farmers will not hold tractor march on 26 January
Advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for a farmers’ group, tells the court that the farmers will not hold the tractor march on 26 January. “We are glad that Dave has said this,” the CJI notes.
13:05 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Don’t want anybody’s blood on our hands, says CJI
“We will stay implementation of farm laws”, said CJI SA Bobde on Monday. “You can carry on the protest. But the question is whether the protest should be held at the same site. Each one of us will be responsible if something goes wrong. We don’t want anybody’s blood on our hands,” Bobde said while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the three farm laws.
13:02 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Put farm laws on hold: SC tells Centre
Justice Bobde pulls up the Centre for seeking more time and insisting on implementing the laws. “If you have some sense of responsibility, and if you say you will withhold the implementation of laws, we will form committee to decide,” he says. “We don’t see why there should be an insistence that the laws must be implemented at any cost.”
Chief Justice of India SA Bobde says political parties have placed the court in a delicate situation. “Our intention is clear,” he adds. “We want an amicable solution for the problem. That is why we asked you last time, why don’t you keep the laws on hold. But you are keeping asking on time.”
12:55 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
Not a single plea filed has said the farm laws are good: SC
The Bench comprising Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said, “Some people have committed suicide, old people and women are a part of the agitation. What is happening?, said the CJI, and added that not a single plea has been filed that said that the farm laws are good.”
12:53 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
CJI refuses to hear on constitutionality of laws
The chief justice lashed out at the attorney general. “We are sorry to say that you, as the Union of India, are not able to solve the problem,” he says. “You have made a law without enough consultation resulting in a strike. So you have to resolve the strike.”
CJI Bobde refused to hear on the constitutionality of the laws. “We will hear at length on the constitutionality later. Not at this moment,” he said.
12:47 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
SC proposes to set up committee
The Supreme Court proposes to set up a committee. “We also propose to stay the implementation of the laws. If anyone wants to argue, argue,” it adds. The apex court also said it will decide on the laws after the committee makes a report. “The court will not pass an order that citizens should not protest,” it adds.
SG : Suppose if the vast majority says that why did you put on hold the laws which are beneficial to us just because some group protested?
CJI : We don’t want to get into all that. Let the committee discuss all that.#FarmersProtests#FarmLaws
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 11, 2021
12:37 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
We are disappointed with the way the process is going: CJI
Hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones raising issues related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders, the Supreme Court on Monday said it is disappointed with the way the process is going.
“We don’t know what negotiations are going on? Can the farm laws be put on hold for some time?”, asked the CJI. He added, “We are extremely disappointed with the way Centre is dealing with this. What consultative process has been followed for farm laws that entire states are up in rebellion.”
Attorney General KK Venugopal: Parties have indicated that discussions will be continued till January 15
CJI: we are extremely disappointed with the way Centre is dealing with this. What consultative process has been followed for #farmbills that entire states are up in rebellion
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) January 11, 2021
12:34 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
SC begins hearing petition against farm laws
The Supreme Court begins hearing petitions against the three farm laws and the ongoing agitations in Delhi borders, reports Live Law.
12:33 (IST)
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates
SC to hear pleas on farm laws today
The Supreme Court will hear a batch of petitions challenging the three farm laws and the farmers agitation on the borders of Delhi today, reports PTI.
The eighth round of talks between the Centre and farm unions on 8 January ended without any resolution to the ongoing stalemate over the repeal of three farm reform laws. The ninth round of talks will be held on 15 January.
During the last hearing, the Supreme Court had pointed out to the government that there had been no breakthrough or improvement in the impasse.
Farmers’ Protest LATEST Updates: Farmer leaders said they would continue their agitation even if the government or the Supreme Court stays the implementation of the new agri laws. The farmer leaders, who said they were “sharing their personal opinion”, were also of the view that a stay is “not a solution” as it is only for a fixed period of time.
They were reacting after the Supreme Court indicated that it may stay the implementation of the contentious farm laws and refused to grant more time to the Centre to explore the possibility of an amicable solution saying it has already granted the government a long rope.
As per reports, farmers’ unions have called off a press conference scheduled for today, as the Supreme Court hearing will continue tomorrow.
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) general secretary Abhay Singh Chautala has written to Haryana Assembly Speaker, saying that in case the Centre does not repeal the farm laws till 26 January, his letter should be considered as his resignation from the state Assembly.
CJI Bobde lashes out at attorney general when the latter asked him not to pass orders today. “Why not?” asked Bobde. “We have given you a very long rope. Don’t lecture us on patience. We will decide when to pass the order. We might pass in part today and in part tomorrow.”
Arguing for the government, Attorney General KK Venugopal said: “You can form a committee but don’t stay the laws.” He referred to past judgments stating courts can’t hold a law without going into its unconstitutionality
The Supreme Court on Monday said it was extremely disappointed with the way talks were going on between the Centre and the farmer unions. The court told the government that it will put the laws on hold if the Centre refuses to do so. The court was hearing a batch of petition challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones raising issues related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders.
Amid a deadlock in the government’s negotiations with protesting farmer unions, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a clutch of pleas challenging the new farm laws as well as the ones raising issues related to the ongoing agitation at Delhi borders.
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 on the pleas by a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde assumes significance as the Centre and the farmer leaders are scheduled to hold their next meeting on 15 January.
The top court, which had observed that there is no improvement on the ground regarding farmers’ protests, was told by the Centre on the last date of hearing that “healthy discussions” were going on between the government and the unions over all the issues and there was good chance that both sides may come to a conclusion in the near future.
The court had then assured the government of an adjournment on January 11 provided it urges so saying that the settlement through talks was a possibility.
“We understand the situation and encourage the consultation. We can adjourn the matters on Monday (January 11) if you submit the same due to the ongoing consultation process, it had said.
After the eighth round of talks, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said no decision could be reached as the farmer leaders did not present alternatives to their demand for the repeal of the laws.
On Saturday, a farmers’ body, Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA), moved the top court in support of the three laws and sought impleadment in the matter.
It said the laws are beneficial to farmers and will enable increased income and growth of agriculture.
The apex court had earlier issued notice and sought the Centre’s response on a batch of pleas against the three contentious farm laws — the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
While hearing the pleas on the issue of farmers’ protest, the top court had on December 17 said that the agitation should be allowed to continue without impediment and this court will not interfere with it as the right to protest is a fundamental right.
While acknowledging the right to non-violent protest of farmers, the apex court was also of the view that their right to protest should not infringe the fundamental rights of others to move freely and in getting essential food and other supplies as right to protest cannot mean blockade of the entire city.
In its December 17 order, the bench had said, We clarify that this court will not interfere with the protest in question. Indeed the right to protest is part of a fundamental right and can as a matter of fact, be exercised subject to public order. There can certainly be no impediment in the exercise of such rights as long as it is non-violent and does not result in damage to the life and properties of other citizens and is in accordance with law.”
“We are of the view at this stage that the farmers’ protest should be allowed to continue without impediment and without any breach of peace either by the protesters or the police,” it said.
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.
Enacted in September, the three laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.
However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of Minimum Support Price and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.