On Friday, Senior Advocate & President of Supreme Court Bar Association Dushyant Dave said that the recently passed farm laws by the Central Govt are "unconstitutional" & "illegal" & will eventually promote profiteering & legalise the exploitative money lending system in the villages.

A meeting took place on Friday, between the President of Supreme Court Bar Association Dushyant Dave, Sangharsh Committee member & farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa and Senior Advocate Harvinder Singh Phoolka on the ongoing farmers' protest in Delhi.

After the meeting, Dave told the news agency that "It is a matter of pride that Sangharsh Committee members met me regarding the farmers' protest. I have told them that the recently passed farm laws are unconstitutional & illegal. These laws will legalise the exploitative money-lending system in the villages.

He added that "This will promote profiteering. There is no protection to the farmers as most of them are small & marginal. How will they enter into agreements with traders & understand the terms? The situation will become such that traders will destroy the farmers".

"The government should think about these laws as it is their responsibility to hear the farmers, address the legal issues & bring an amendment to the law. The most important amendment should be that the trader should give in writing that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will be ensured to the farmers," Mr Dave said.

"The government has also mentioned that they want to keep the judicial system outside of the purview of this law. The joint secretaries & district magistrates will not be able to dispense justice to the farmers. Our judiciary is capable to dispense justice to the farmers. The government should include the judiciary system. But it is also true that cases will increase in the courts & hence this law is not required," he added.

Dave further added, "This law also impacts the 'democracy at the grassroots'. The farmers till now could do collective bargaining at Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC). It is true that all APMCs were not working fine. But that does not mean that the government should bring in an even more exploitative law."

"I am hopeful that the Prime Minister will address these issues & think about the welfare of the farmers, I will assist the farmers in their struggle in my personal capacity," he said.

HS Phoolka said that the Govt should reconsider these farm laws as a senior advocate like Dave is also not on its side.

"We are thankful that Dushyant Dave will assist the farmers in their struggle. The government is saying that it has examined the law but it should think that if a senior lawyer like Dushyant Dave is also saying that these laws are not in the interest of the farmers then it must be considered by them," Phoolka said.

"The government's legal advisors may be differing on this issue but they should contemplate on it. Delhi Bar Council also announced that they examined these laws & declared that they are not in the interest of the farmers or advocates. The government should not make it an ego issue," he added.

Phoolka further said, "India is a country of farmers. If all the farmers are uncomfortable, then how is our country a democracy? The government should sit with the farmers & advocates & then implement the amendments to these laws."

Farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa said: "We are very happy that Supreme Court lawyer Dushyant Dave is with us. The government should rollback these laws & make laws after consulting farmers. Dushyant Dave said that he will fight the cases for farmers free of cost. We are grateful to HS Phoolka who facilitated our meeting with Dave ji."

Thousands of farmers have gathered in & around Delhi to protest against the three farm laws.

On Thursday, the farmers held the 4th round of talks with the Centre & said the Govt had talked of some amendments to farm laws.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said after the talks that the Govt has no ego & it was discussing the issues raised by farmers with an open mind.

The Minister said that "The government will discuss points that emerged at the meeting on Friday & hopes that talks will move towards finality when the next round of discussions are held on Saturday".

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