The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered an indefinite stay on the implementation of new agricultural laws that have triggered widespread protest from farmers, saying it wanted to protect farmers and would hear their objections.
For more than a month, tens of thousands of farmers have camped on the outskirts of New Delhi, the capital, to protest against reform measures that they say benefit large private buyers and harm growers.
Chief Justice Sharad Bobde told a hearing that the Supreme Court would set up a panel to hear the farmers’ grievances.
“We have the power to make a committee and the committee can give us the report,” he said, ordering the stay for an undisclosed period on the laws passed in September. “We will protect farmers.”
There were no immediate further details.
Farm leaders said their demand for a full repeal of the laws remained unchanged.
“We are grateful to the Supreme Court for its positive response,” said Rakesh Tikait, president of one of the largest farmers’ unions, Bhartiya Kisan Union. “The protests will continue until demands are met.”
India says the laws aim to modernise an antiquated farming system, bedevilled by wastage and bottlenecks in the supply chain.
But farm leaders say the reforms are an attempt to erode a longstanding mechanism that ensures farmers a minimum support price for their crops.
The government has said there was no question of dropping the reforms and eight rounds of talks have failed to find common ground. The two sides are set to meet again on Friday.
According to rapid attribution analysis by an international team of leading climate scientists from the World Weather Attribution group, extreme…
The business elite funds political parties and elections in return for economic favours or for securing favourable policies for their…
On Monday, May 13, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to play with the…
The vast majority of humanitarians killed are national staff, but as in most conflicts, little is heard about them. On…
The expectation for Indian politicians to 'be with the people' now encompasses standing with them through their lived experiences of…
From historical myths to modern femtech apps, the focus of medical products aimed at women is often profit, not well-being.…
This website uses cookies.