The central had told the court during the last hearing that “healthy discussions” were going on between the government and the unions over all outstanding issues.
The apex court is scheduled to hear a bunch of pleas challenging the new farm laws and agitation at Delhi borders today amid the deadlock in the government’s negotiations with the protesting farmer unions.
The Centre, during the eighth round of talks with farmers union, ruled out repealing the contentious laws and asked farmers to approach the Supreme Court. However, farmers have refused to do so. Farmers union are not a party to the pleas being heard by the top court today.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde will hear the pleas today. The hearing on the pleas holds great significance as the Centre and the farmer leaders are scheduled to hold their next meeting on January 15.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had observed that there is no improvement on the ground regarding farmers’ protests. The central had told the court during the last hearing that “healthy discussions” were going on between the government and the unions over all outstanding issues.
“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,” the court had said during the last hearing.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, after the eighth round of talks, had said no decision could be reached as the farmer leaders did not present alternatives to their demand for the repeal of the laws.
The Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA), a farmers boy, moved the top court on Saturday in support of the three laws. It said the laws are “beneficial” to farmers and will enable increased income and growth of agriculture.
The protesting farmers, however, 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.
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