Agricultural economist Anil Jaysing Ghanwat, a member of the SC-appointed committee on farm laws has written to Chief Justice N V Ramana urging him to make public the report on three contentious farm laws which was prepared after eliciting views of all the stakeholders.
Ghanwat urged that the report be forwarded to the government for immediate implementation of the recommendations “for peaceful resolution of the stalemate to the farmers’ satisfaction at the earliest”.
In his letter Ghanwat said he feels that the report submitted six months ago on March 19, 2021 “addressing all apprehensions of farmers was not given attention by the Supreme Court” and also said he is “pained that the issue is still unresolved and the agitation continues.”
“Committee was given two months of time to submit its report. The committee, after consulting a large number of farmers and several stakeholders submitted its report before the stipulated time on March 19th. Committee incorporated opinions and suggestions of all the stakeholders with the aim of maximum benefits to farmers. The report has addressed all apprehensions of farmers”, said the letter.
“As a member of the committee, especially representing the farmers’ committee I’m pained that the issue raised by the farmers aren’t yet resolved and the agitation is continuing. I feel the report has not been given any attention by the SC”, it said.
After holding deliberations with farmers’ organizations for two months, the three-member SC-appointed committee of agricultural economists had submitted its report to the apex court regarding the three contentious farm laws in a sealed cover.
The committee is believed to have spoken to 73 farmer organizations besides other stakeholders like APMC officials.
It had also sought comments, views, and suggestions of the public through a public notice published in major newspapers.
The committee comprised of agricultural economists- Anil Ghanvat, Ashok Gulati, and Pramod Joshi. Bhupinder Singh Mann, president, Bharatiya Kisan Union, and the All India Kisan Coordination Committee was also initially part of the committee but resigned later.
Farmer unions agitating at the borders of the NCR refused to hold discussions with the SC-appointed committee saying they will not be settling for anything less than total scrapping of the three laws.
The then CJI Bobde led bench which had put the implementation of the three laws on hold had on January 12 given the committee two months time to study the laws and consult all stakeholders and submit a report.
“The representatives of all the farmers’ bodies, whether they are holding a protest or not and whether they support or oppose the laws shall participate in the deliberations of the Committee and put forth their viewpoints. The Committee shall, upon hearing the Government as well as the representatives of the farmers’ bodies, and other stakeholders, submit a report before this Court containing its recommendations. This shall be done within two months from the date of its first sitting. The first sitting shall be held within ten days from today”, the court had said in its order.
