The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the partial lifting of the blockade of the Shambhu border and asked the Punjab government to persuade the protesting farmers to remove their trucks and tractors from the road.

The bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan also directed the police chiefs of both Punjab and Haryana to hold consultations on clearing the blockade on the inter-state border.

During the hearing, solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Haryana government, requested the bench to stay a Punjab and Haryana High Court order appointing a judicial commission to probe the death of a 21-year-old farmer, Shubhkaran Singh, in alleged police firing on protesting farmers on February 21. Mehta argued that the probe would demoralise the police force.

The bench turned down the plea.

The apex court, however, complimented the Punjab and Haryana governments for giving a list of names to be appointed to a committee by the top court to find a solution to the ongoing tussle between the farmers, the Centre and Haryana.

“We appreciate both states. The names are completely apolitical and for the genuine causes of farmers and agriculturalists,” the bench said.

The apex court adjourned the matter for further hearing to August 22.

On July 24, the apex court had observed that there was a “trust deficit” between farmers and the government and decided to set up an independent committee to resolve the stalemate arising out of the Shambhu border blockade.

Expressing its displeasure over the blockade, the court had ordered a status quo to prevent a flare-up of the situation at the Shambhu border.

Since February 13, hundreds of farmers from Haryana and Punjab have laid siege on the Shambhu border in a bid to enter Delhi to press for their demand for a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP).