SC grants time, farmers see hope for policy change in Himachal
Shimla, Sept 19: In a major breather for small and marginal farmers of Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court granted permission to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s August 5 order, while maintaining status quo till further orders.
The case, filed by petitioner Onkar Singh Shad, has opened a window for what farmer groups are calling a “state-wide struggle” to push for changes in land and revenue laws that directly affect the poor, Dalit, tribal, OBC, and widow farmers of the hill state.
These sections, already battling shrinking landholdings, climate shocks, and lack of housing rights, are looking at the apex court’s move as an opportunity to press for minimum livelihood guarantees and secure shelter.
The bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Himachal government and clubbed the matter with a similar SLP (No. 37460/2025). Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the petitioner, argued that blanket application of the High Court’s order has left vulnerable farming communities in the lurch.
Farmer collectives say the time gained through the SC’s intervention must be used to build pressure for policy corrections.
“This is not just about one case—it’s about justice for the poorest who have no land to till and no house to live in,” said a farmer leader from Shimla district.
With the court order keeping matters in balance for now, farmer unions are gearing up for coordinated protests and campaigns to demand amendments to revenue laws in favour of those at the margins of Himachal’s agrarian economy.
“The struggle has just begun. We will take this fight from the villages to the Vidhan Sabha and ensure the laws reflect the needs of small and poor farmers,” another farmer activist said.
For now, the Supreme Court’s status quo directive has given these communities breathing space—and a rallying point to demand long-overdue reforms.
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