Public movement on roads cannot be stopped: SC on farmers' protest

The Supreme Court observed that to and fro movement on public roads cannot be stopped and the solution for farmers blocking roads and creating inconvenience for the commuters, lie with the central and the state government.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court observed that to and fro movement on public roads cannot be stopped and the solution for farmers blocking roads and creating inconvenience for the commuters, lie with the central and state government. The Court made the remark while hearing a writ petition filed by Monicca Agarwaal, Noida resident. The petitioner alleged that she had to travel two hours instead of 20 minutes due to road blockade.

"It is stated that the petitioner has some problem. The solution lies in the hands of the Union Government of India and the State. If the protests are on, the traffic should not be stopped in any manner, so that to and fro movement of people is not disturbed," the division bench observed. The bench comprised of Justice S K Kaul and Justice Hrishikesh Roy. The Court extended time till September 20 for government to find a solution to the issue.

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that the farmers have a right to protest but inflow and outflow to the roads cannot be stopped. "Why can't you find the solution?" Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was asked by Justice Kaul.

The apex court had directed Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to respond on the issue of traffic blockade. The UP government told the SC that it has made "tireless efforts" to make farmers understand their "grossly illegal act of blocking public roads, causing grave inconvenience to the travellers".

UP informed the top court in its affidavit that currently there are 141 tents, 31 langars, and 80-1000 protestors in the area and around 15,000 more protesters join in within hours when they are called from adjoining areas. It added on saying that a platform also has been installed for speeches and there is a media centre as well. Presently to tackle the situation, alternate routes are operating for commuters from Ghaziabad, Hindon and Maharajpur border to Delhi.

Farmers from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly-enacted farm laws: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the (Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Farmer leaders and the Centre have held several rounds of talks but the stalemate continues.