Chandigarh, March 27 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed Punjab authorities to ensure that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is hospitalized, can receive visits from family, friends, and others without obstruction, provided they follow hospital rules.
Justice Manisha Batra issued the order while disposing of a habeas corpus petition seeking Dallewal’s release. The court noted that Dallewal was admitted to a hospital in Patiala on the night of March 19-20 due to deteriorating health from his indefinite hunger strike over farmers’ demands.
The state, the court observed, had clearly stated that Dallewal was not under illegal detention but was hospitalized on the Supreme Court’s directions for medical care. “The petitioner’s counsel did not dispute that family members and some farmer leaders had already met him in the hospital,” the court noted.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel confirmed that Dallewal had not requested discharge from the hospital. “On being asked whether the alleged detainee wants to be discharged, the counsel replied in the negative,” the court stated.
Justice Batra clarified that Dallewal was free to leave the hospital after seeking discharge. “As such, it cannot be said that he is in illegal confinement,” the judge added, concluding that no further orders were required.
The petition, filed by farmer leader Gurmukh Singh and represented by advocates Gurmohan Preet Singh, Angrej Singh, and Kanwarjit Singh, had alleged that Dallewal’s hospitalization was a cover for illegal detention aimed at suppressing the farmers’ movement. The petition claimed this violated the fundamental rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and association under Article 19 of the Constitution.
