Hitting out at the farmer's group protesting against the three farm laws in the national capital, the Supreme Court said that they have "strangulated the entire city (Delhi) and blocked highways".
The farmers' body, Kisan Mahapanchayat, had filed a plea seeking permission from the apex court to hold a 'Satyagrah' at Jantar Mantar, an authorised protest site in Delhi.
It has sought directions from the top court to the authorities to provide space to at least 200 farmers or professors at the Jantar Mantar for organising a peaceful and non-violent 'Satyagrah'.
The top court, however, has slammed the farmer's group which sought its permission for holding protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar saying what is the point in approaching the court if it plans to continue its protests by blocking roads and highways.
“You have strangulated the city and now you want to come inside the city…You are obstructing security and defence personnel. This was in the media. All this should stop. There is no point in protest once you come to the court challenging the laws,” said Justice A M Khanwilkar, who is heading a two-judge bench.
The SC told the group that as they have approached the court against the three agriculture laws, they should have trust and faith in the country’s judicial system and allow the matter to be decided.
“If you have faith in courts, pursue that for urgent hearing instead of protesting. Are you protesting against the judicial system also?: said the court.
Justice Khanwilkar said, "You block highways and then say the protest is peaceful. Citizens also have their rights to move around. Their properties are being damaged. You are affecting security also. You stopped defence personnel also.”
"We have not blocked highways. The police have detained us there," Advocate Advocate Ajay Choudhary representing the farmer’s body told the court.
Also Read: Bharat Bandh against ‘Three Farm Laws’ evokes good response in Punjab, Haryana
Justice CT Ravikumar has asked the farmers counsel to file an affidavit declaring it to be not a part of the road blockade and it will then consider taking up the matter again after the affidavit is filed.
On Thursday the court had taken on the problematic view of the continuing blockade and jams of the highways connecting Delhi to other neighbouring states by farmers agitating against the farm laws. It said the roads happen to be blocked perpetually.
“Redressal can be through judicial form, agitation, or parliamentary debates. But how can highways be blocked and this happen perpetually? Where does it end?”, justice S K Kaul had questioned.
Also Read: Can't be blocked perpetually: SC asks Centre for steps taken to clear roads blocked by farmers
Two other groups of farmers - Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) in July had carried out a massive protest outside the Jantar Mantar during the monsoon session of parliament.
It's been over a year that the farmers have been protesting at the border points of the concluding repeal of the farm laws formulated by the centre. Even with 11 rounds of talks between the government and protesting farmers, both parties have not been able to reconcile.