SC refuses Haryana government plea against judicial probe into farmer’s death during protests

Supreme Court declines to intervene in Punjab and Haryana High Court order for special committee on farmer's death.

The Supreme Court on April 1 declined to intervene with a Punjab and Haryana High Court order constituting a special committee chaired by a retired judge, Justice Jaishree Thakur, to investigate the death of a 22-year-old man during farmers’ agitation at the Punjab-Haryana border.

The farmers’ protests were met with stiff resistance from the Haryana Police at the borders. The protesters, who were marching to Delhi, were stopped at the borders in February. Violence ensued after the agitators and the police had clashed.

Appearing before a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and K.V. Viswanathan, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Haryana government, said the constitution of the committee headed by a retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge was “demoralising” for the State police.

Mr. Mehta said the Haryana police was capable of investigating the death of Shubhkaran Singh, a farmer, fairly.

“This will demoralise the Haryana Police. Why not trust the police force to investigate? Sixty-seven police officers were injured facing the protesters who were armed with lethal weapons… Giving the investigation now to a committee headed by a retired judge would affect the morale of the State police… Tomorrow, a police officer will hesitate to fire,” Mr. Mehta argued vehemently.

He said the protesters’ vehicles resembled tanks and they were armed with swords, spears and sharp-edged weapons. The law officer said unfortunately women and children were also used as cover by them.

Justice Kant said the death was undoubtedly a homicide.