New Delhi (Web Desk): Indian top court on Tuesday issued stay order over the implementation of new agricultural laws that have triggered widespread protests from farmers.
The Supreme Court said it wanted to facilitate mediation between the government and the protesting farmers who fear that the legislation will leave them at the mercy of big business.
“We are going to suspend the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders,” Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde said.
The court in Delhi added that it would form a committee of experts to try and resolve the protracted dispute, which has emerged as a major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Every person who is genuinely interested in solving the problem is expected to go before the committee,” the court added.
“The committee will not punish you or pass any orders. It will submit a report to us.”
For more than a month, tens of thousands of farmers have camped on the outskirts of New Delhi, the capital, to protest against reform measures that they say benefit large private buyers and harm growers.