Need for some balanced approach: SC tells farmers’ body seeking permission to stage protests

New Delhi: “You have strangulated the entire city and now you want to come within the city and start protest again here,” the Supreme Court on Friday told a farmers’ body protesting against the three farm laws and seeking directions to authorities to allow it to stage a satyagraha at Jantar Mantar here.

A bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and C T Ravikumar told the counsel appearing for petitioners ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’, a body of farmers and agriculturists, and its president that once they have approached the court against the three farm laws, they should have trust in the judicial system and let the matter be decided.

The apex court said citizens have equal rights to move freely and without fear and their properties are being damaged in the protest.

The court said, “There has to be some balanced approach.”

The bench, which posted the matter for hearing on October 4, asked the petitioners to file an affidavit declaring that they are not part of the protest, which is being carried out and blocking the national highways at the borders of the city.

Several farmer organizations 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.