Shift farmer leader Dallewal to hospital or face contempt: Supreme Court to Punjab officials

New Delhi - The Supreme Court on Saturday warned Punjab Chief Secretary K A P Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav that it would frame charges of contempt of court against them if its order on shifting farmers' leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal – who is on fast-unto-death since November 26 – to a hospital was not complied with. “It’s a contempt case and the next step is known. Why should not there be charges against the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police? Why should charges be not framed? This is the logical flow of a contempt matter,” a Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia told the two officers, who were virtually present during the hearing. Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh told the Bench, “Mr Dallewal is refusing to go to hospital and the farmers present also are not allowing it... There is a risk that there may be collateral damage of life and property on both sides—of farmers and the police, if he is taken to hospital.” “Conciliation has to happen before confrontation,” Singh said, adding “We are helpless and we are saddled with the problem.” Acting on a contempt petition foiled by one Labh Singh of Mohali, the top court had on Friday issued notice to the Punjab Government for its ‘failure’ to implement the court’s order to shift Dallewal to a hospital.