Centre files counter-affidavit in SC a day ahead of order; details consultative process

In a significant development on Monday, Centre filed a counter-affidavit before Supreme Court on pleas challenging farm laws and those seeking removal of protesters from Delhi borders. This comes a day before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian is set to pass an interim order on se petitions. On behalf of Centre, Union Agriculture Minister Sanjay Agarwal stated that protests by some farmers should t be treated as a reflection on validity of  Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020,  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

He stated that following routes - Palla check post, Singhu border, Tikri border, Dhansa border, Sakoli border, Jai Singhpur Khera and Atohan Palwal leading to Delhi had been fully blocked owing to farmers' stir besides partial blocking of 4 or routes. In counter-affidavit, Agarwal elaborated Centre's consultations prior to formulating farm legislation. Explaining rationale for farm laws, he accused some farmers and unions of carrying out protests based on "apprehensions, misgivings and misconceptions" created by some vested interests. 

Maintaining that Centre is committed for empowerment of farmers, bureaucrat cited  implementation of Swaminathan Commission report and schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Providing details about several round of talks with farmers' unions, Agarwal opined that farm legislation was an outcome of two decades of deliberations. Moreover, he assured that Union government had taken all efforts to eng with farmers to remove any misapprehensions. As per Agarwal, this affidavit was filed to remove a "deliberate wrong impression" created by "n-farmer elements" present at protest site and to apprise SC with true facts. 

Read: PM Should Apologise To Farmers After SC Rap; Repeal Farm Laws: Cong

Here is affidavit:

COUNTER AFFIDAVIT IN WP 111... by Natasha Patidar

Read: BKU's Rakesh Tikait Thanks SC For 'listening To Farmers' As CJI Hints At Staying Farm Laws

Hearing in SC

Earlier in day, SC expressed disappointment with Centre's handling of farmers' stir and questioned consultative process followed before enacting laws. Taking te of fact that some protesters are committing suicide, CJI asked Centre on who should be held responsible if bloodshed takes place. While Attorney General KK Venugopal argued that courts cant stay legislation, CJI referred to recent three-judge bench order which stayed implementation of a 2018 Maharashtra law granting reservation to Maratha community.

During hearing, CJI asked advocate HS Phoolka to convince old people and women among protesters to return to ir vills. However, Phoolka stressed that se people have joined stir on ir own. Though bench refused to restrain peaceful protest by farmers, it hinted at changing site of protest. When Attorney General requested top court to t pass any order in hurry, CJI retorted that bench had already given a very long rope to Union government. 

Read: Two-day Session Of Bengal Assembly Against Farm Laws