Haryana govt. appeals to Supreme Court on farmer's death probe

In a significant development, the Haryana government has approached the Supreme Court, challenging a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court that orders a judicial investigation into the death of a 22-year-old farmer during the ongoing protests at the Punjab-Haryana border. This appeal, lodged on February 11, is pending listing by the Supreme Court registry, following the High Court's decision to establish a committee to examine the circumstances leading to the farmer's death last month at the Khanauri border.

The tragic incident, which saw the loss of young Shubhkaran Singh from Punjab amid clashes between the farmers and security forces, has led to the formation of an investigative committee by the High Court. The committee is chaired by Retired Justice Jaishree Thakur and includes ADGP Punjab Parmod Ban and ADGP Haryana Amitabh Singh Dhillon as members. Their mandate encompasses determining the investigative jurisdiction, identifying the cause of death, evaluating the proportionality of the force applied, and considering compensation for the bereaved family.

The judicial inquiry comes amidst allegations of a cover-up by the authorities in Punjab and Haryana. Initial actions by the Punjab Police, including the registration of a Zero FIR and subsequent case transfer to Haryana Police citing jurisdictional concerns, have been met with skepticism by the High Court. Doubts have also been raised about the claims of using only non-lethal force during the incident, contradicted by autopsy findings that revealed metallic objects in the deceased's skull.

The High Court's push for a comprehensive investigation aims to bring clarity to the events that led to Singh's death, highlighting issues of transparency and accountability in law enforcement. The committee is expected to complete its inquiry within a month, with provisions for meetings and on-site assessments by the former judge.

This move by the Haryana government to contest the High Court's order highlights the ongoing tension between farmers and law enforcement and marks a crucial step in the quest for justice for the deceased farmer and his family.