The Supreme Court on Thursday said farmers protesting at Delhi borders against the three farms laws have the right to agitate but they cannot block roads indefinitely.
A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul said it was not against the right to protest even when the legal challenge is pending but ultimately some solution has to be found.
A bench of Justices SK Kaul and CT Ravikumar asked the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers union, whether they have a right to block the road.
Responding to this, SKM said that the road management can done be better by the police and if they are unable to manage then farmers should be allowed to protest at Delhi’s Ram Lila Ground or Jantar Mantar.
During the hearing, SG Tushar Mehta cited Republic Day violence and said the incident took place despite the farmers unions giving an undertaking that there will be no violence during tractor rally on January 26.
The Supreme Court has asked SKM and other farmer unions to file their response in four weeks to the petition seeking removal of protesting farmers from roads.
“Farmers have right to protest but they cannot keep roads blocked indefinitely. You may have a right to agitate in any manner but roads should not be blocked like this. People have right to go on roads but it cannot be blocked.” the bench also comprising Justice M M Sundresh said.
The apex court was hearing a PIL filed by a Noida-resident Monicca Agarwal complaining of delays in daily commute caused due to the road blockade owing to the ongoing farmers’ protests.
Farmers have been camping at Delhi borders to demand that the three agri laws be rolled back.
