Supreme Court Says Farmers Have Right to Protest but Can’t Block Roads

Highlights:

• Supreme court today said the farmers have the right to protest and won’t be interfered by anyone
• The protesters cannot block the roads said the Supreme Court, which was hearing a bunch of petitions for and against the protest today
• The SC said it is thinking of setting up an impartial and independent panel of the Agri experts and farmer unions which could aid in resolving the impasse on farm laws

Supreme Court said today at the hearing of a number of petitions on the subject of ongoing farmers protest that the protest of farmers at the Delhi border, which is currently in its 23^rd day must continue but the national capital cannot be blocked. Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde who said yesterday that the matter must be referred to a committee and the panel must have impartial representatives with agricultural experience to hear from both sides and report on what needs to be done. Meanwhile, as “the protests are going to continue without violence and the police will not do anything to stop the protests,” said the Chief Justice.

There was, however a rider—the protesters cannot block the roads of the city or harm life or property, the court said.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, one of the representatives of the petitioner, said, “Protests cannot be just for protest, but to articulate point of view,” the court said, “That is exactly what we mean”.

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“Protest’s purpose must be fulfilled by non-violent means. Protests must be about issues. Distressed parties must be allowed to coherent and the party that caused the problem must be allowed to answer,” said Chief Justice Bobde.

When the Centre announced that farmers could not just demand the revoke of the laws, insisted on a meeting where discussions on each clause could be held, the court said that on Wednesday it “observed that the Centre apparently did not succeed in the discussion for the negotiation with the farmers. We do not think that the farmers will accept your closure. Let the committee decide”.

Former Finance Minister of India, P Chidambaram, was representing the government of Delhi and said “If you make so many amendments, the original law is untraceable. The farmers say this law is not acceptable. So, bring a new law and let parliament discuss.”

The court, which was hearing a number of petitions for and against the protest, said it would not ask for the validity of the controversial farm laws passed at the heart of the furore in September.

The Chief Justice of India, S A Bobde also said, “We are on the ongoing protests and democratic rights of citizens to move free…the validity of laws will have to wait.”