Are farmers protected from COVID-19? Supreme Court asks Centre

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Thursday asked Central government whether the thousands of farmers who are protesting in and around Delhi are protected from Coronavirus, alarming them about the situation that had aroused in past due to Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

"Do not know whether farmers are protected from COVID? Have you learnt from your experience what happened (referring to the Tablighi congregation)? The same problem may arise from the farmers agitation also," the bench headed by Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

His observations came over a PIL that sought reply from Delhi and Central government on their role during the huge congregation at the Tablighi meet in Delhi's Nizamuddin area in March 2020.

At that time, the Muslims were tagged as super spreaders of coronavirus.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting along the Delhi borders for more than a month now, demanding scrapping of three new laws which have been included in the Farm Bill. They have been living in make-shift camps, with resources stretched and barely available sanitary arrangements.

No concrete solution has been found in the matter despite several talks between the government and the farmers' unions.

Chief Justice Bobde further said, "We are interested in solving the problem of COVID. We are ensuring COVID protocols are honoured."

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