The farmers’ protests have heavily damaged the face value and probably also the credibility of the government, which is looking cornered at the present with support pouring in from multiple sources for the farmers.

As the eighth round of talks between protesting farmers and Centre failed to make any headway, the Union government has pinned hopes on the Supreme Court hearing on January 11 on a batch of petitions challenging the three new farm laws and to end protests by farmers on the borders of Delhi. The Supreme court had recently heard the petitions and arguments by various parties like the farmers, the Delhi government and the GOI, in which the Apex court had stated that the protests can go on till the time they are peaceful.

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As successive rounds of talks between farmers and Centre have failed, the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had urged farmers to present their stand before the top court so that a legal, holistic solution can be arrived at. While Centre wants the apex court to hear the pleas on the legal validity of farm laws and agrees to abide by its decision, farmer groups remain insistent that they would not return home till the three new farm laws are repealed.

Various opposition leaders and farmer groups have already moved the top court against the new farm laws, claiming that farm laws cannot be diluted without the consent of individual states since state assemblies are competent to legislate on agriculture and trade laws. Legislative Assemblies of Punjab and Kerala have already passed resolutions to nullify the effect of Central farm laws, and Punjab has even passed a law to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers in the state.

Many opposition parties and farmer groups have cited past verdicts of the Supreme Court, while stating that Centre cannot frame laws on agriculture. Though agriculture is a part of the state list under the Indian Constitution, the Concurrent List allows both Centre as well as states to decide on production, distribution and supply of all products; including agricultural produce.

Hearing the case last month, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Bobde had expressed empathy towards the plight of farmers, while hinting to form a committee comprising of farm experts and farmer unions to peacefully resolve the dispute.

While the Union government is ready to make amendments in the new farm laws, farmers have resolved to celebrate harvest festivals of Lohri and Baisakhi while sitting at the protest sites, and have refused to budge till the new laws are undone.

Many farmer groups are also wary of moving the court, stating that policy matters are to be decided by governments, not the judiciary which only examines the constitutional validity of laws. And if farmer groups donot come to court, the resolution of this dispute will have to wait at least till the 9th round of their talks with the Union government on January 15.