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The Supreme Court on Monday urged senior lawyers to allow their junior lawyers to argue cases during the vacation.

A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Sanjay Karol had a brief courtroom exchange with Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta.

"I would request all Seniors to give this vacation time to the younger members of the Bar (to argue). We want the younger bar to grow, that is all; vacation was meant (to be an opportunity) only for the younger people," Justice Karol remarked.

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The Supreme Court today stayed the implementation of the three farm acts, directed that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops be maintained, and that landholdings of farmers are protected.

The three laws - the Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmers Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, and Amendment to the Essential Commodities Act have been stayed until further orders.

While doing so, the Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian expressed hope that its directions would encourage the farmers to put an end to the protests. The order passed today states,

"While we may not stifle a peaceful protest, we think that this extraordinary order of stay of implementation of the farm laws will be perceived as an achievement of the purpose of such protest at least for the present and will encourage the farmers bodies to convince their members to get back to their livelihood, both in order to protect their own lives and health and in order to protect the lives and properties of others."

The Court has further hoped that a stay on the controversial farm laws "may assuage the hurt feelings of the farmers and encourage them to come to the negotiating table with confidence and good faith."

The Bench also directed for the formation of a Committee to listen to the grievances of the farmers relating to the farm laws. The four-member Committee comprises:

Bhupinder Singh Mann, National President, Bhartiya Kisan Union and All India Kisan Coordination Committee;

Dr. Parmod Kumar Joshi, Agricultural Economist, Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute;

Ashok Gulati, Agricultural Economist and Former Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices; and

Anil Ghanwat, President, Shetkari Sanghatana

Notably, the Court has called upon the representatives of all the farmers’ bodies to participate in the deliberations of the Committee and put forth their view points.

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Acting on a complaint over the use of caste names on vehicles and number plates, the office of the UP Transport Commissioner has issued a directive to all the regional offices of the Transport Department to “take necessary action against such vehicles as per the already existing rules”.

According to officials, routine challans could be issued to violators as per the existing rules as there is no rule that allow seizure of such vehicles.

The practice of boasting about one’s social status by putting up the names of their caste and sub-caste on their vehicles has become a trend in the state.

“We had received a complaint regarding this, and quoting the complaint we asked the authorities concerned to take necessary actions as per the existing rules… There are already rules prohibiting doing such things. Whatever action needs to be taken, it should be taken, and the same has been conveyed to the authorities,” UP Transport Commissioner Dheeraj Sahu said.

According to the transport officials, the complaint was received over the Integrated Grievances Redress System (IGRS) in which the complainant had sought seizure of such vehicles. The complainant said that such glorification should be stopped as such a trend could start caste rivalries, which could create law and order situation.

“The purpose of engraving cast names is nothing but superiority complex over other castes which is not good. Caste-based names must be stopped to curb future caste-based crimes as India has been very sensitive when it comes to caste,” the letter issued by Additional Transport Commissioner (Administration) Mukesh Chandra to the regional transport department officials read.

Additional Chief Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal said that as per the Motor Vehicles Act no person can write anything else on the vehicle number plate.

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After a meeting of opposition leaders with the President, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said there was a request from all opposition parties to have in-depth discussion on farm bills but no suggestion was accepted and bills were passed in a hurry. Farmers are sitting on roads in the cold and expressing their unhappiness. It’s the duty of the government to address their issues and resolve the deadlock.  

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the parties informed the President that it is absolutely critical that these anti-farmer laws are taken back.

CPI-M chief Sitaram Yechury said the opposition parties have given a memorandum to the President asking to repeal agriculture laws and electricity amendment bill as they were passed without proper discussion.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reaches Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence in Delhi.

President of Krantikari Kisan Union at Singhu (Delhi-Haryana border), Darshan Pal has said the union doesn’t accept the Centre’s amendment proposals. He said the farmers will block Delhi-Jaipur highway by 12th December.

Ahead of the meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind regarding the farm laws, CPI-M chief Sitaram Yechury said more than 25 opposition parties have extended their support towards the demand of withdrawing the three laws. The laws threaten India’s food security, he added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reached Rashtrapati Bhawan to attend a joint delegation meeting of opposition leaders with President Ram Nath Kovind in view of intensifying farmers’ protest.

The Shiromani Akali Dal Spokesperson Prem Singh Chandumajra on Wednesday said it is important to pressurise the government. If the farmers’ and the Centre don’t reach an agreement, then what sort of opposition political support can be given to the farmers will be decided by the 3rd week of December. The leaders of the political parties are due to meet President Ram Nath Kovind, ANI reported.