The Supreme Court will today hear a petition calling for the reopening of highways, including the Shambhu border, which have been blocked by protesting farmers.
Legal Action Sought Against Highway Blockades
A bench consisting of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan will address the petition, which seeks directions to the Punjab and Haryana governments, as well as the Union government, to remove the protesting farmers from the highways. The petition also requests the court to instruct the farmers to uphold law and order during their protests.
Violation of Fundamental Rights and Legal Framework
The petition argues that blocking highways in this manner violates the fundamental rights of the public. It further claims that such actions contravene the National Highway Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and demands legal action against those obstructing the roads.
Farmers' Protest Faces Police Action
On Sunday, farmers protesting at the Shambhu border were met with tear gas and water cannons by the Haryana police as they attempted to march towards Delhi. The farmers called off the march midway and announced they would take stock of the situation before deciding on their next steps.
In February this year, the Haryana government closed the Shambhu border to curb the farmers' march towards Delhi. The protest was part of a renewed agitation mirroring the 2020 anti-farm law protests, with demands such as the legalisation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
The ongoing blockade at Shambhu has caused persistent inconvenience to residents and commuters in Haryana. Union minister and former Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar previously criticized the protests, alleging that the individuals blocking the border were not genuine farmers but rather people attempting to destabilize elected governments.
Court Ruling on Barrier Removal Pending
In August, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the state government to remove the barricades at the Shambhu border. However, the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court, which will further deliberate on the issue.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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