Supreme Court, observing a trust deficit between farmers and the government, on Wednesday, proposed an independent committee comprising eminent persons to reach out to protesters and find a solution to their demands.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Surya Kant emphasized the need for a "neutral umpire" to inspire confidence between farmers and the government. The bench questioned why farmers would come to Delhi if the government didn't take steps to reach out to them, despite ministers' best intentions.
"You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending Ministers from here and despite their best intentions there is a trust deficit," the bench also comprising justices Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan said.
"Let appropriate instructions be taken within a week. Till then let parties maintain the status quo at the site to prevent the flaring up of the situation at the Shambhu border," the bench said.
The Supreme Court's directives came while hearing the Haryana government's plea challenging a high court order to remove barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala, where farmers have been camping since February 13.