New Delhi: In a huge blow to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Tuesday put on hold the three new farms laws that triggered the ongoing protest by farmers.
“We are staying the three farm laws until further orders,” Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said.
The directive came while a three-judge bench headed by the CJI was hearing petitions related to the new farm laws and those concerning people’s right to free movement in the backdrop of the farmers’ protest.
The bench said it was trying to solve the problem in the best way and it had the power to suspend the laws.
“These are matters of life and death. We are concerned with laws. We are concerned with the lives and property of people affected by the agitation. We are trying to solve the problem in the best way. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation,” the CJI said.
The court also said it was setting up a four-member committee of agricultural experts to negotiate with the farmers to end the stand-off and submit a report.
“We want to solve the problem and that’s why we are making the commitment. Give the names to us, we will decide,” the CJI added.
A day earlier on Monday, the three-judge SC bench had criticised the Centre for its handling of the farmers’ protest and said it is “extremely disappointed” with the way negotiations between them were going.
