New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday reprimanded the Punjab government and expressed concern over misleading media narratives suggesting that the judiciary had ordered the termination of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s ongoing fast.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan clarified that the court’s primary focus is on ensuring Dallewal’s health and well-being by providing him with immediate medical aid, rather than interfering with his protest.

“We need to make it clear that we have not directed the breaking of Dallewal’s protest. Our concern lies solely with his health,” Justice Surya Kant stated, further expressing disappointment over what appeared to be “irresponsible statements” made by certain Punjab government officials and farmer leaders in the media.

The bench also remarked on the need to evaluate the intentions of some farmer leaders towards Dallewal, cautioning against any attempts to complicate the situation.

Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh rebutted the claims, assuring the court that no such misleading attempts were being made. He added that efforts were underway to convince Dallewal to accept medical assistance without compelling him to break his fast.

Court Orders Compliance With Health Directives

Highlighting its December 20 directive, the Supreme Court instructed the Punjab government to ensure Dallewal’s transfer to the nearest medical facility set up by the state. Both the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, who appeared virtually during the proceedings, were asked to file affidavits confirming compliance with the earlier order.

The bench noted, “With senior officials present in today’s session, we trust our message will be communicated effectively down the administrative chain.”

The case has been scheduled for further hearing on January 6.

Notice Issued to Centre on Farmers’ Demands

In a parallel development, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Union government on a new petition submitted on behalf of Dallewal. The petition seeks enforcement of commitments made during the 2021 farmer protests, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops. These demands remain unresolved despite assurances given after the repeal of the contentious farm laws.

Background: Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike has drawn significant attention, with calls for government intervention to address his demands. The apex court’s stance aims to balance respect for peaceful protest with the responsibility to safeguard an individual’s health.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine a plea filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, seeking the enforcement of the 1991 Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, which mandates the preservation of the religious character of all places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947.

A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar ordered Owaisi’s plea to be tagged along with pending cases concerning the same issue. The matter has been scheduled for hearing on February 17, 2025.

At the outset, advocate Nizam Pasha, representing Owaisi, urged the bench to consolidate the plea with existing petitions challenging the provisions of the 1991 law. “We will tag this,” the Chief Justice remarked.

Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), filed the petition on December 17, 2024, through advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi. The plea emphasizes the need for the Central government to ensure effective implementation of the 1991 Act and expresses concerns over instances where courts have entertained petitions seeking surveys of mosques.

Background on the 1991 Law

The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and requires maintaining the religious character of any place of worship as it stood on August 15, 1947. The law was enacted to uphold secular values and maintain harmony among diverse communities.

On December 12, 2024, the Supreme Court, acting on a batch of petitions challenging the Act’s provisions, had directed all lower courts to refrain from entertaining new suits or passing interim or final orders concerning the reclaiming of religious places, particularly mosques and dargahs.

Owaisi’s Concerns

Owaisi’s plea underscores the importance of adhering to the 1991 Act in light of recent court-ordered surveys of mosques prompted by petitions from Hindu litigants. The AIMIM leader has requested the Supreme Court to issue directives to the Union government for stringent implementation of the law to avoid potential conflicts.

The case remains a significant legal and societal issue, with the upcoming hearing expected to provide clarity on the Act’s application and implications for religious harmony in the country.

As the Supreme Court resumed operations on Thursday following its winter vacation (December 21, 2024, to January 1, 2025), Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna welcomed lawyers and litigants back with heartfelt New Year wishes.

“I wish you all a happy new year. May you and your families have a wonderful year ahead,” said the CJI, setting a warm tone for the first day of proceedings in 2025.

Addressing procedural updates, the CJI noted, “I am told the email for mentioning is not working. You can move the physical letters accordingly.” He assured that these letters would be reviewed in the afternoon, and necessary orders would be issued for case listings.

Justice Khanna, after assuming the role of CJI, had introduced reforms in the process of urgent case listings. Moving away from the traditional practice of oral submissions before benches, he emphasized written requests through emails or letters to streamline the process.

This approach reflects Justice Khanna’s commitment to modernizing judicial procedures while maintaining efficiency and accessibility for lawyers seeking urgent hearings.

The Supreme Court’s reopening marks the beginning of a significant year ahead, with various landmark cases and decisions expected under the guidance of CJI Khanna.