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Plea in court to evict protesting farmers over Covid

In view of the increasing COVID-19 cases, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking removal of farmers from the Delhi border. The petitioner said that the apex court had earlier stated that indefinite protests cannot be held at public places while hearing the Shaheen Bagh case.

Plea in SC seeks removal of protesting farmers citing COVID
Plea in SC seeks removal of protesting farmers citing COVID

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Published : Dec 4, 2020, 4:53 PM IST

New Delhi: A Public Interest Litigation(PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking removal of farmers protesting against the recently enacted Farmers' Act at Delhi border in view of the increasing COVID 19 cases.

A PIL has been filed by a law student, Rishabh Sharma, who contends that despite the Delhi police allowing the farmers to hold a demonstration peacefully at Nirankari ground, Burari, the farmers have blocked the borders for all the emergency/medical services which are required to be supplied to Delhi in order to contain the virus and treatment of people coming to Delhi. He has cited the judgement of Amit Sahni vs. Commissioner of Police&ors(removal of protestors from Shaheen Bagh) which said that indefinite protests can not be held at public places.

Plea in SC seeks removal of protesting farmers citing COVID
Sharma argued that the government has not allowed gathering of more than 50 people and at the border, there are 3 lakh farmers gathered increasing the risk of spreading covid 19.

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"That it is most respectfully submitted that life of lakhs of people protesting at Delhi Borders is at immediate threat since the virus is very contagious and if by chance this coronavirus disease takes the shape of community spread, it will create havoc in the country. Therefore, the immediate intervention of this Hon'ble Court and passing of appropriate direction for restricting mass gathering of people at any place is necessary," read the plea.

"That from the recent media report it is seen that in spite of police trying best to convince the people/protestors to avoid such huge gathering in lieu of threat of coronavirus but the protestors have turned a deaf year and are hardly concerned for the safety of public at large," read the plea.

The petitioner seeks directions to the concerned authorities to open the borders, shift the farmers to the allotted place and provide guidelines relates to social distancing and use of mask at the protest place.

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