NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard a batch of pleas seeking direction to the authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi against three new farm laws since November 26. A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian heard the matter.
The apex court bench issued notice to the Centre and the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi on the batch of pleas and granted permission to implead farmer organisations. The court expressed its intention to set up a committee comprising representatives of farmers unions across India, government and other stakeholders to resolve this issue "because this will soon become a national issue and with government, it won't work out it seems".
The SC directed petitioners to make protesting farmer unions parties and posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.
Farmers' protest in Delhi: Latest developments
Supreme Court issues notice to Centre and states on a batch of pleas seeking a direction to the authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi against three new farm laws. The SC told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that it intends to set up a committee comprising representatives of farmers' unions across India, govt and other stakeholders to resolve this issue, adding "because this will soon become a national issue and with the government, it won't work out it seems." The court has asked Mehta and the petitioners to submit names of farmer organisations for the farmers.
- SC begins hearing the plea.
After the counsel appearing for petitioner mentioned Shaheen Bagh case to move farmers from Delhi borders, Chief Justice of India said there cannot be a precedent in law and order matter.
- Noida: Traffic movement disrupted at Noida-Delhi Chilla border, due to blockade by protesting farmers.
- Red-flagged by the economic impact of farmers protest, SC to begin hearing farmers at 12.30 pm.
The protestors remained adamant that the three farm bill are rolled back and continued to hold agitation at the borders of the national capital. "The government has failed to satisfy the farmers, despite a series of talks. This has caused a political embarrassment for the NDA and by no way is the Opposition responsible for it," said Majeed Memon of the NCP
Petition seeking a change of site for farmers' protest: Backdrop
The plea has been filed by law student Rishabh Sharma who claims that commuters are facing hardships due to the road blockades and the farmers' gathering might lead to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The petitioner has further claimed that the Delhi Police had, on 27 November, allowed the protesters to hold a demonstration peacefully at the Nirankari ground in Burari, but they still continue to block Delhi borders.
"The petitioner is seeking an urgent direction from this court for immediate removal/dispersal of such mass gathering of protesters at the Delhi borders and shift them to the place already allotted by the Delhi Police in view of an immediate threat of the coronavirus infection and spread," the plea said.
It added that the protesters can continue to protest peacefully after the threat of the coronavirus is over and keeping in view that the number of COVID cases is increasing, it is paramount that the protest is stopped immediately.
The protest by farmers against Centre's three farm laws continued for the 20th day at Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana on Tuesday.
Farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital 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.