Supreme Court Forms Committee for Farmers' Grievances

The Supreme Court of India announced its intention to form a multi-member committee aimed at resolving farmers' grievances permanently. During a hearing regarding the ongoing farmers' protest at the Shambhu border, the bench, consisting of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan, urged the Punjab and Haryana governments to compile tentative issues for the committee's consideration. The Punjab government reported compliance with a previous court order by negotiating with farmers, resulting in an agreement to partially open a blocked highway. The court reiterated the importance of engaging with the protesting farmers to clear their tractors and trollies from the roads. The protest, which has persisted since February, was triggered by demands for a legal guarantee of minimum support prices for agricultural produce. The next hearing is scheduled for September 2, 2024.