Farmers Legal Update: SKM Acknowledges UNITED SIKHS ongoing critical Legal and Humanitarian relief Aid
Dear Supporter Jee,
Kisan Ekta Morcha Commends UNITED SIKHS Legal Aid and Humanitarian Efforts.
Kisan Ekta Morcha is the official information outlet for Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a coalition of over forty Indian farmers’ unions that coordinate a response against the three farm laws passed by the India government in September 2020.
Kisan Ekta Morcha Legal Cell released a statement earlier this month acknowledging UNITED SIKHS ongoing critical Legal and Humanitarian relief and commitment to the farmers’ needs.
“We appreciate and welcome UNITED SIKHS, a global NGO affiliated with the UN, for their assistance for the farmers’ protest in continuing their commitment to spend the legal aid fund meant for their cases after the 26th January incident. Their legal work deserves to be recognised. Earlier there was some misunderstanding in this regard which has now been cleared in the meetings of SKM legal cell and UNITED SIKHS legal team and other respectable members as the work for providing help is in progress. It is also to be noted here that UNITED SIKHS has been working at the Morcha since day one to provide much needed humanitarian aid and relief like medical camps, tent cities, RO systems, food, oxygen concentrators, cylinders and emergency supplies, etc,” Adv. Prem Singh Bhangu
Head: SKM Legal Committee.
The UNITED SIKHS Legal Team in India sought bail for farmers and protestors arrested following the protests on January 26, 2021 in Delhi. The farmers and their families need UNITED SIKHS support more than ever as their cases make their way through the judicial system, a process that can take months and even years. The legal services provided include ongoing advocacy and support to defend against the charges the protesters face while addressing the challenges.
Most recently, four families approached UNITED SIKHS legal team in New Delhi. Their loved ones had been missing since the Republican Day protests on January 26, 2021 in Delhi. The UNITED SIKHS Legal team filed habeas corpus petitions on behalf of three families asking the High Court to issue an Order to the police and state officials to produce the missing persons in court or explain what has happened to them. Up until the habeas petitions were filed no one had any clue of their whereabouts.
Our legal team led by Supreme Court Advocates Girdhar Govind and Neetu Singh took on the challenge despite the COVID pandemic lockdown and suspension of in-person court appearances. The legal teams filed the writs (habeas corpus) and through sheer grit and determination they finally succeeded in obtaining an order from the Delhi High Court that police and state officials respond with the whereabouts of these missing persons. The families are relieved that they will soon be able to locate their missing family members.
The High Court Division Bench after hearing arguments of our Advocate and Advocate for State/ Police directed the State/ Police to tell the whereabouts of missing Petitioners and file the Status Report within one week and directed the matters to be listed on 30th June.
Our dedicated legal teams and volunteers in India and around the world make all of this possible with your support. We are grateful that you are a part of the UNITED SIKHS family and partners in the efforts to assist farmers. We welcome you to continue to be our partners as we serve the needs of all of our fellow global citizens.
Gurvinder Singh
International Humanitarian Aid Director
gurvinder.singh@unitedsikhs.org
UNITED SIKHS
Recognize the Human Race As One
