‘Farm law panel has no power, no question of bias’: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court had constituted a committee to resolve the war between the farmer and the Center over three agricultural laws. Farmers organization has urged the Supreme Court to remove members from the panel set up by the apex court to resolve the deadlock between the protesting farmers and the central government over the new farmers laws.

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In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Saturday, the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Lokshakti, had expressed the possibility of bias, saying, "The principle of justice is going to be violated by constituting these persons as members." 

How will the members appointed by the Supreme Court listen to the farmers on the same parameters when they have already supported these three agricultural laws.

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Chief Justice SA Bobde said during the hearing- "We have appointed experts in the committee because we are not experts. You are suspecting someone in the committee because it has expressed views on agricultural laws?" The panel does not have the authority to pronounce the verdict, so where did the bias come from? They are talented minded people in the agricultural sector. How can you smear their name?

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The union in its petition has requested to appoint a former Supreme Court judge along with agrarian leaders who protested in this panel. The SC formed a four-member committee on 12 January to hear the grievances of the farmers and submit a report in eight weeks. 

On Thursday, Bhupinder Singh Mann, chairman of the All India Farmers Coordination Committee, removed himself from the panel citing "interests of farmers".

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