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Journalism of Courage
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state authorities to ensure that the family members of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, currently admitted to Park Hospital, Patiala, are allowed to meet him without any hindrance. The order came during the hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by Gurmukh Singh against the State of Punjab and another party.
The habeas corpus petition, filed on March 22, alleged that Dallewal, leader of the Joint Forum Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political), was illegally detained by Punjab Police. Justice Manisha Batra had issued a notice to the Punjab government and police on the plea, which stated that Dallewal was taken into custody without prior notice or explanation while returning from a meeting with a Central government delegation on March 19. The meeting, according to the petition, was held to discuss farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and debt waivers.
The plea further alleged that after the meeting, Punjab Police intercepted Dallewal’s convoy near Jagatpur in Mohali and detained him along with other farmer leaders, leading to clashes between police and protesting farmers. Senior Deputy Advocate General Ruchika Sabherwal had sought time to file a status report, and the case was scheduled for hearing on March 24.
During today’s proceedings, the Punjab government informed the court that Dallewal was not in police custody but had voluntarily opted for hospitalization due to his health condition and was free to leave. However, the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Gurmohan Preet Singh, argued that the authorities were not allowing Dallewal’s family to visit him, requesting court intervention to facilitate the meeting.
After hearing both sides, Justice Manisha Batra ruled, “Keeping in view the request of the counsel for the petitioner, the respondents are directed to ensure meeting of the family members of the alleged detenue in the hospital premises without any hindrance either from the side of respondents or the hospital authorities, however, by observing the protocol of the concerned hospital.”
Additional Advocate General Deepender Singh, representing the state, cited Supreme Court orders and assured that the government was responsible for Dallewal’s medical care and had no objection to the family meeting him within the hospital premises.
The case has now been adjourned to March 26.
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