Delhi:The Supreme Court on Friday sharply criticized the Punjab government for failing to transfer farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over a month, to a hospital despite repeated medical recommendations.
During a special sitting held over the Christmas and New Year vacation, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia demanded immediate action and questioned the state’s commitment to ensuring Dallewal’s survival.
“This is a contempt petition against the Punjab chief secretary and DGP for not complying with our December 20 order,” the bench stated, referring to the directive that Dallewal should be hospitalized. The bench questioned Punjab’s advocate general, Gurminder Singh, on whether the state was genuinely concerned about the leader’s well-being.
“Please, take it seriously. Someone’s life is at stake… The impression we get is that you have not been taking it seriously,” the bench emphasized, expressing dissatisfaction with the state’s delay in providing the necessary medical care.
AG Gurminder Singh acknowledged that a group of eight cabinet ministers had met with Dallewal to persuade him to accept medical treatment, but he noted strong resistance from farmers as a barrier to transferring him to a hospital.
The bench countered, “If there are people creating a law-and-order situation, you as a state must know how to handle it. It’s your duty.” The court then ordered the Punjab government to submit a compliance report within 24 hours.
Additionally, the court directed the virtual presence of the Punjab chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP) for the proceedings on Saturday, admitting a contempt petition against the two officials for failing to follow the court’s earlier directive from December 20, which called for necessary steps to ensure Dallewal received proper medical aid, including hospitalization.
