The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case regarding the health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is currently on an indefinite hunger strike to press for his demands.

The hearing will take place tomorrow.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh will address a petition filed on Dallewal's behalf, seeking a directive to the Central government to implement a proposal made to protesting farmers in 2021 following the repeal of the controversial farm laws. This proposal includes a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops.

Previously, the Supreme Court had questioned the Centre as to why it could not publicly state that it was open to considering the genuine grievances of farmers, especially those demanding a legal guarantee for MSP.

The Court will also consider a petition for contempt action against the Punjab government for failing to adhere to its directive from December 20 last year, which ordered that Dallewal be moved to a hospital for medical care.

On January 12, Dallewal wrote to several religious leaders urging the Central government to meet the demands of farmers, which include a legal guarantee for MSP. Farmer leaders have raised concerns about Dallewal's deteriorating health as his hunger strike entered its 48th day on January 12.

Earlier, on January 6, Dallewal, the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), met with a Supreme Court-appointed panel led by Justice (retd) Nawab Singh. This was after the Punjab government attempted to convince protesting farmers to engage with the panel. 

Dallewal, who began his indefinite fast on November 26, 2024, has refused medical assistance from the Punjab government, and his health has worsened in recent days. Farmers affiliated with SKM and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 of the previous year, after their march to Delhi was blocked by security forces.

On December 20, 2024, the Supreme Court instructed the Punjab government to take responsibility for Dallewal’s hospitalization, suggesting that he could be moved to a makeshift hospital located 700 meters from the protest site at Khanauri border.