The Supreme Court on Wednesday requested the Punjab government to share farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's detailed medical reports, including his latest vitals to take stock of his medical condition.
"The Chief Secretary of Punjab is directed to handover the reports to the Registrar (Judicial) of the Supreme Court who shall then obtain the medical opinion from the Director (AIIMS)," said, the two-judge bench, led by Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh.
The SC issued this order in response to State of Punjab representative, senior advocate Kapil Sibal's statement that Dallewal's parameters are improving. Sibal had clarified to the bench that there is now a medical facility just 10 meters away from the protest site.
The SC wondered how a person fasting for over 50 days could have stable vitals and sought the latest updates on Dallewal's health from the Punjab government.
The apex court directed the apex court registrar to communicate the reports to the AIIMS director for an opinion on Dallewal’s test reports from the medical board.
After being duly convinced by Sibal that the High Powered Committee have taken very 'effective steps' and there is progress in the health of Dallewal, the top court postponed further hearing to January 29.
The High Powered Committee (HPC) led by Chairperson, Justice (Retired) Nawab Singh, had already met Dallewal and treated him.
On Wednesday, the top court was also hearing a contempt petition seeking appropriate action against the Punjab government authorities for allegedly not complying with its directions to take Dallewal to a hospital on December 20 last year.
The SC has repeatedly clarified that all orders were made keeping in mind Dallewal's health and that it is not attempting to break his fast, adding that Dallewal can continue his fast under medical supervision.
"That is our only concern. His life is precious as a farmers' leader. He is not aligned to any political ideologies and he is taking care of only the farmers’ cause,” the top court told Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh.
In one of the hearings, the SC slammed the Punjab govt for allowing the situation to escalate and not complying with its earlier directions to provide medical assistance to Dallewal.
Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) (non-political), began his indefinite hunger strike on November 26, 2024.
He had earlier filed a plea seeking direction from the Central government for implementing a proposal made to the protesting farmers in 2021 after the farm laws were repealed, including a legal guarantee of MSP on crops.
He refused medical aid offered by the Punjab government and his health deteriorated recently.
Farmers, under the banners of SKM and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 last year, after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.