‘Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is not in custody’, Punjab government to HC

Chandigarh: The Punjab government informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal was not in police custody and was free to go anywhere. It said Dallewal, who leads the ‘Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) KMM’ joint forum, had been admitted to a private hospital in Patiala as per his wish.

A bench of Justice Manisha Batra directed the state government to ensure necessary arrangements for Dallewal to reunite with his family without any hindrance. The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition seeking his release.

The Punjab government’s counsel, citing Supreme Court directions, said the state was responsible for Dallewal’s healthcare. He added that the farmer leader had voluntarily chosen to be admitted to the hospital and was free to leave. “The family can meet him as per safety rules,” he said.

Dallewal’s lawyer, however, claimed authorities were preventing him from meeting his family. “Dallewal is not even drinking water, and no one is being stopped from meeting him,” he said.

Justice Batra noted that the state government maintained Dallewal was not in custody and was admitted to Park Hospital in Patiala on his own accord. However, considering the petitioner’s claim that he was being prevented from meeting his family, the court directed the Punjab government to ensure his family could meet him at the hospital.

The petition, filed by farmer leader Gurmukh Singh, also alleged that 300 to 400 other members of farmers’ organisations were missing. He sought the court’s intervention to ensure their safety and demanded that the detained farmer leaders be produced before the court.