‘You have strangulated the entire city, blocked highways’: Supreme Court pulls up farmer group

New Delhi, Oct 01: Supreme Court on Friday pulled up farmers' group protesting the three agricultural laws saying they have "strangulated the entire city (Delhi) and blocked highways".

The apex court said protesting farmers are obstructing traffic, blocking trains and national highways.

""You have strangulated the entire city and now you want to come within the city and start protest again here," a bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar said, adding, "There has to be some balanced approach".

"Tell us one thing, you want 'Satyagrah' here, no difficulty. But you have approached the court. Once you have approached the court, have trust in the court and the judicial system that it will decide your case appropriately," the bench said.

It said the petitioner has already moved the high court against the farm laws and they can approach the court for expeditious hearing.

"What is the point of doing 'Satyagrah'?" the bench observed.

The counsel argued that the courts will examine the validity of the farm laws.

"Your issue is only that repeal those three laws. You have filed a writ petition before the high court. Once you have made up your mind and have approached the court and having done that, thereafter you cannot say that you will continue with the protest. What is the purpose of this," the bench asked.

When the bench asked, "Are you protesting against the judicial system", the petitioner's counsel said, "no".

"Once you have approached the judicial system, have faith in the court. You pursue that matter for urgent hearing instead of protesting again," the bench said.

It said right to protest is there but the citizens also "have equal rights to move freely and without fear".

"Their properties are being damaged. Do you take permission from the residents around that whether they are happy with your protest," the apex court said, adding, "This coaxing business should stop".

"What is this peaceful protest? You block trains, you block highways and then you say your protest is peaceful and without causing any harm to the public," the bench said.

A farmers' body, which is protesting against the three farm laws passed last year, has approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to the concerned authorities to allow it to stage 'Satyagrah' at the Jantar Mantar here.

The petition filed by 'Kisan Mahapanchayat', a body of farmers and agriculturists, and its president has said that representation made by them to the concerned authority to permit them to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar has been rejected.

The farmers are protesting against the passage of three laws, The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.

Initially, the protests started from Punjab in November last year and later spread mainly to Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.