NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Punjab government to take adequate care of health of farmers' leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast-unto-death since last 24 days at the Khanauri border.
Supreme Court Urges Punjab to Address Health of Fasting Farmer Leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasised it was the responsibility of the Punjab government to look after the health of Dallewal.
The bench also sought reports from the Punjab chief secretary and health officials on the medical conditions of Dallewal by January 2, giving a liberty to the state government to approach the court if a need arose.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s Health: SC Demands Medical Report Amid 24-Day Hunger Strike
The bench felt 70-year-old Dallewal could be moved to the makeshift hospital set up within 700 metres of the protest site at Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana.
Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh gave an undertaking of the chief secretary on the medical condition of the farmer leader and said forcefully moving him from where he was stationed could cause him trauma and aggravate the situation. The bench said the authorities could continue with their efforts to persuade him to move to the hospital.
Also Read - 'Our doors always open,' SC to protesting farmers
During the hearing, the bench asked the Punjab government to give an undertaking on Dallewal’s health condition and on moving him to the nearby facility for round-the-clock monitoring.
Singh told the bench Dallewal had cooperated and underwent several tests, including ECG and blood examination on December 19. He said Dallewal's health condition appeared to be stable for now.
Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast at the Khanauri border since November 26 to press the Centre into accepting the agitating farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) on crops.
On December 19, the Supreme Court has asked the Punjab government to convince Dallewal to undergo health examination.
The court also pulled up the Punjab government for not conducting medical tests on Dallewal, who is on an indefinite fast at Punjab-Haryana Khanauri border.
