There should be one member in the committee who knows the ground realities: Former HC judge Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik on farm laws protests

Amidst the ongoing protests by farmers from Punjab and other states at the Delhi borders, former judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik, has thrown his weight behind the protestors..Justice Malik, who now practices as a Senior Advocate before the Supreme Court, was seen at the protest sites at the Delhi border, addressing the farmers and the media on the controversial farm laws passed by the Central government..In an interview with TV Punjab, Justice Malik gave his views on the committee appointed by the Supreme Court to hold talks with the protesting farmers. When asked for his views on the apex court order staying the implementation of the farm laws, Justice Malik said,“This decision is not final. This is an interim order. They have formed a committee...It is not right to comment adversely on a Supreme Court order.”.Urging the authorities to consider the needs of the farmers, Justice Malik said,“My humble submission is that there should be at least one member in the committee who knows the ground realities, how farming is done and what difficulties farmers face.”.He also urged the protesting farmers to keep the protests peaceful as they have done so far. He suggested that the government should discuss the demands of the farmers with an open mind and take a decision on the issue soon.The former judge told the protestors that he wasn't among them in any particular role, but was present at the site as a farmer's son and a farmer himself who could relate to the angst amongst the farmers..Justice Malik was elevated to the Punjab & Haryana High Court in September 2011 and retired in October 2017..Earlier this week, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three controversial Farm Laws against which farmers, particularly from north Indian States of Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at Delhi borders since November 2020..The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde also ordered the formation of a four-member committee to hear all the parties and stakeholders and submit a report to the Court..Stay will assuage hurt feelings of farmers and encourage them to come to the negotiating table: Supreme Court in order staying Farm Laws.After the constitution of the committee was criticised, Bhupinder Singh Mann, National President of Bharatiya Kisan Union and one of the four members of the Committee constituted by the Court, recused from the committee.