New Delhi:

The Supreme Court has refused to stay a judicial inquiry ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court into the death of a 22-year-old man during farmers’ protests on the Punjab-Haryana border.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan said those approaching the high court seeking judicial inquiry had “some genuine concerns”.

“These charges are against the Haryana police. Please move the chargesheet to the high court on April 10,” Justice Kant said.

The bench rejected the Haryana government’s argument that the order would affect police morale.

“There is no basis for your arrest,” the Supreme Court said.

On February 13, 22-year-old Shubkaran Singh left his home in Barok village in Bathinda district, Punjab, to participate in the farmers’ march to Delhi. Eight days later, he was killed during clashes between farmers and police near the Kanauli border in Punjab and Haryana states.

The exact cause of Shubkaran’s death is not yet known.

The farmers have made several demands to Delhi, including a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for crops, pension benefits and crop insurance. MSP is a price fixed by the government to protect farmers from selling their produce at low prices.

Determined to prevent farmers from reaching the national capital, Haryana police has beefed up border defenses with Punjab. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the farmers.

Farmers claimed that rubber bullets were also used during the clashes. Police said several officers were injured after protesters threw rocks and sticks.