The Supreme Court criticized farmer leaders for preventing Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hospitalization amid his fast-unto-death. The court is addressing a contempt petition against Punjab officials for failing to comply with a prior order.

The Supreme Court on Saturday warned Punjab Chief Secretary K A P Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav that it would frame charges of contempt of court against them if its order on shifting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal – who is on fast-unto-death since November 26 – to a hospital was not complied with.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death protest since November 26 to press for farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops.

The Supreme Court has given the Punjab government until December 31 to convince farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, on a month-long hunger strike, to move to a hospital. The court criticized the state's failure to provide medical aid and suggested those blocking assistance could be abetting suicide.

Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast at the Khanauri border point since November 26 to press the Centre to accept the farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops.