Farmers' Protest
Farmers have right to protest but cannot block roads : Supreme Court
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court today heard a number of petitions on the farmers' protest against the newly-formed farm laws and said the agitation on the borders of Delhi can continue but the roads to the national capital cannot be blocked, and also directed the Centre not to implement the laws until it has taken a final decision on the matter, media reports said.
Responding to a petition seeking removal of protesters from the border areas Chief Justice SA Bobde said the agitation should not cause damage to anyone's life or property while making it clear that the apex court recognises the fundamental right to protest against a law, media reports said.
“A protest is constitutional till it does not destroy property or endanger life. The Centre and farmers have to talk; we are thinking of an impartial and independent committee before whom both parties can give its side of story to resolve impasse on farm laws,” news agency ANI quoted the CJI as saying.
Justice Bobde said the matter must be handed to an independent committee comprising members with knowledge of agriculture, who should hear both the sides and submit a report, media reports added.
“The independent committee can have P Sainath, Bhartiya Kisan Union and others as members. You (farmers) cannot instigate violence and cannot block a city like this,” CJI Bobde further said, reported HT.
Attorney General KK Venugopal, representing the Centre, said he would get back after discussions.
He told the court the farmers were flouting Covid-19 protocols and may end up spreading the disease to others in their villages.
Venugopal pointed out that the farmers gathering in large numbers are not maintaining social distance and not wearing masks.
" Farmers cannot violate the fundamental rights of others,” he said.
"Protest's purpose must be fulfilled by non-violent means. Protests must be about issues. Aggrieved parties must be allowed to articulate and the party that caused the problem must be allowed to answer," the Chief Justice said, reported NDTV.
Asserting that farmers cannot demand complete repeal of the laws, the Centre insisted on a clause-by-clause discussion.
Responding to this, according to the NDTV report, the court said: "We observed yesterday that the Centre is not successful in negotiations. We do not think that the farmers will accept your conclusions. Let the committee decide."
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