'To Prevent Flaring Up': Supreme Court Directs To Maintain Status Quo At Shambhu Border, Stays Punjab And Haryana HC Order

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (24 July) asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to maintain the status quo on the Shambhu border and form an independent committee to reach out to protesting farmers.

The order was passed by a bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan while hearing the Haryana government's plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) order.

Earlier this month, the HC had directed the Haryana government to remove barricades at its Shambhu border with Punjab citing inconvenience to the general public.

Challenging the decision, the Haryana government argued that farmers are using 'armoured tanks' as tractors and expressed apprehension of any untoward incident that may happen when the border is opened.

Considering this argument, the apex court said, "Both states are directed to maintain the status quo at the site...to prevent flaring up the situation at the Shambhu border."

However, it asked to form an independent committee, comprising eminent persons who can reach out to farmers and other stakeholders in order to find a viable solution to demands.

The court said that the states of Punjab and Haryana can suggest some names. The two states are also asked to submit a proposal for the removal of barricades in a phased manner so that no inconvenience is caused to the public at large.

The decision comes at a time when the farmers have announced another March to Delhi on 15 August against the three criminal laws. Barricades at the Shambhu border have been in place since February this year.