The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition that sought immediate intervention to clear blockades on national and state highways in Punjab, where farmers are holding ongoing protests.
Justices Surya Kant and Manmohan, who were presiding over the case, noted that the issue was already under review by the court and could not entertain repeated petitions on the same matter.
“We are already examining the larger issue. You are not the only conscience keeper of society. Don’t file repetitive petitions. Some are filing for publicity, while others are doing it for personal interest,” the bench remarked, addressing petitioner Gaurav Luthra, a self-identified social activist from Punjab.
Luthra had asked the court to link his petition with the one already pending regarding the farmers’ protests, but the court declined this request.
The protests, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been ongoing since February 13, when farmers, en route to Delhi, were stopped by security forces. They have since set up camps at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana, demanding changes to agricultural policies. Luthra’s petition argued that the farmers’ actions were blocking vital national and state highways for an indefinite period, severely impacting transportation and public life.
In his plea, Luthra sought court orders to clear the blockades and prevent further obstruction of national highways and railway tracks. However, the Supreme Court maintained that the ongoing case would continue to be examined, and dismissed the petition as redundant.
This ruling highlights the Court’s stance on addressing ongoing matters efficiently without being burdened by multiple petitions on the same issue. It also underscores the complexities of dealing with public protests while balancing the right to protest and the need for public order.
As the farmer protests persist, the court will continue to monitor the situation, focusing on the larger concerns at play.
