[Farmers Protests] "Branding people has become a cultural thing now", Supreme Court on criticism against court-appointed committee members

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took exception to the manner in which the members of the committee appointed by it were castigated by the press and the public for the opinions expressed by them on Farm laws. .A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that casting aspersions on people or "branding them" for their opinions is undesirable. ."You cannot brand people like this. People should have an opinion. Even judges express opinion. Branding people has become a cultural thing now", remarked CJI Bobde..The Court said that the committee members were "called names" and that the bona fides of the Court for taking up the case was also questioned. ."We have serious reservations that committee members were called names. They were called names and then said we (Court) had an interest in that. I am disappointed to see what has been reported in the press", the CJI said. .The Court underscored that it had taken up the matter keeping in view the larger public interest and that there is no compulsion on anyone to appear before the committee. ."Somebody has expressed an opinion so you think there is bias. If you don't want to appear (before the committee), then don't appear. But don't brand people and malign them and on top of that you cast aspersions on the court. We only intervened for the common interest of the people," the CJI emphasised..The Supreme Court had, on January 12, formed a four-member committee comprising Bhupinder Singh Mann (National President of Bharatiya Kisan Union), Dr. Pramod Kumar Joshi, Ashok Gulati (Agricultural Economist) and Anil Ghanwat (President of Shetkari Sanghatana) to hear the protesting farmers and other stakeholders and submit a report to the Court about the same..An order to that effect was pronounced by a three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI), SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.The Supreme Court's decision had come under fire since all the members of the committee were reportedly those who had expressed support for the contentious Farm Laws enacted by the Central government against which the farmers are protesting at the national capital..Bhupinder Singh Mann later recused from the Committee citing the "prevailing sentiments and apprehensions amongst the farm unions and public in general"..During the hearing on Wednesday, CJI Bobde said that the Committee members "are the most brilliant people in agriculture today."With specific reference to a plea by one of the farmers unions seeking reconstitution of the committee, the Court issued notice but expressed its disapproval with regard to the aspersions cast on the current members of the committee. "You just malign them for some opinion expressed in past. Every judge on a case now had expressed a different opinion at some point of time. In this body politic, haven't you seen opinions change when contrary points are heard? Supreme Court has appointed someone and you shred their reputation", the Court remarked. .The role of the committee, the CJI clarified, is not to adjudicate any dispute but to consider the grievances of parties affected by the Farm Laws and submit a report to the Court. ."The purpose of appointment was clear - to listen to the grievances of parties affected by the Farm laws with reference to provisions enacted therein. Adjudicatory powers have not been conferred on the committee", he said..Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for some of the farmers unions, said that they want nothing short of repeal of the laws and that they would not wish to present themselves before the committee. ."The farmers' unions say they don't want any amendments now. They want only repeal. They say no discussions was held on Farm Bills", Bhushan said. .On why the farmers are apprehensive of halting their protests, Bhushan said,"They fear that if they get up and go away since laws are not in force, then later if courts come to the conclusion that laws are constitutional and interim orders are withdrawn, then what happens? That's why they are apprehensive." .The hearing on Wednesday was also privy to a discussion on the proposed tractor rally which the farmers are planning to hold on Republic Day. ."5,000 tractors are coming inside the city. They will go all around the city", Attorney General KK Venugopal said..CJI Bobde also expressed apprehensions about the same. ."Farmers only want to celebrate Republic Day on outer ring road. (There is) no attempt to destroy peace", Bhushan responded. ."We trust Mr Bhushan's statement that there will be peace", the Court said as hearing drew to a close.