New Delhi, December 19
The Supreme Court has sought the medical report of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for the past 23 days on the Khanuri border of Punjab and Haryana. The Supreme Court asked the Punjab government to persuade the 70-year-old farmer leader to seek medical help. The Supreme Court said civil rights activist Irom Sharmila had also continued her struggle under the supervision of doctors (for more than ten years). The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujal Bhuiyan also slammed the Punjab government for not conducting a medical test of Dallewal so far. The bench said that no one is trying to end the farmers’ movement, they only want to ensure the safety of Dallewal. The bench described Dallewal as a ‘people’s leader’. Singh has asked for a day’s time to convince Dallewal and make him aware of the feelings of the court. The bench will now hear the matter on tomorrow (December 20).
Justice Bhuiyan said that on the lines of Imphal-related civil rights activist Irom Sharmila, who continued her struggle under medical supervision for more than ten years, Dallewal could continue her struggle under medical supervision. The Supreme Court also criticized the Punjab government for claiming that Dallewal’s health had improved in the report of the Punjab government doctors without conducting any medical tests.
The bench said, “No one should take us lightly.” We are more concerned about Dallewal’s health. We want to know that he is okay. You guys are saying they are fine. You all are not doctors…will you be able to explain how a 73-75 year old person suffering from serious ailments has been on hunger strike for the past 21 days? Please bring the doctor before us who says he is perfectly fine.”
The bench also took notice of the fact that Dallewal is refusing to seek medical help and she is also refusing to give blood samples for examination or to undergo ECG or CT scan. “Once his health recovers, we will definitely meet him,” the bench said. This is the issue of farmers and you should thank us because we have not done anything away from the leak. We are just doing our duty…convince them (Dallewal) to go to the hospital for a week. After receiving medical treatment, they can continue their struggle. If he is leading the agitation then there will be some other members who can continue his agitation.” The bench made these comments after Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh claimed that Dallewal In the message sent by the officials, it has been said that they want to address the court personally.
The Supreme Court told Singh that it wanted to know about Dallewal’s health and medical parameters, which would be known only after some tests. On this, the Advocate General said that the trolley in which Dallewal is kept, has a circle of three thousand to four thousand farmers. Even an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner was prevented from entering on December 18. Singh said that the state government has prepared a temporary hospital two minutes away from the Dharna site of Dallewal. A team of seven doctors is present there 24 hours along with an ambulance.
Singh, quoting ground reports, said that forcibly removing Dallewal from there could lead to a confrontational situation, which could cause loss to both sides. The bench, however, said, “The farmers or their leaders never got into a scuffle.” These glossaries are prepared by your officers. They (farmers) will never do such a thing. They are sitting on a peaceful sit-in. If they (Dallewal) are provided with all the basic facilities and they are out of danger, then they will join the struggle again. It is not the case that their protest will be lifted. There are other people in their place, who can sit on dharna.” Justice Kant said, “We do not want Dallewal’s fast to be broken, but he can be provided medical aid without any force. They don’t even need to take juice or anything else because there are so many things,” the bench said. There is a question that until the blood test, CT scan, ECG and cancer test reports of Dallewal are received, the actual health condition of Dallewal cannot be known.” -News-Patiala
