Supreme Court on Monday agreed to scrutinize the problem of whether the right to protest is a right. This was in response to an appeal filed by Kisan Mahapanchayat. It looked for the capacity for protesters at Jantar Mantar. The Supreme Court registered the matter to be heard on October 21.
Attorney General’s guidance:
A panel led by Justice A.M. Khanwikar and Justice C.T.Ravikumar sought guidance from the Attorney General. Attorney General K.K.Venugopal addressed that the petitioners have questioned the time limit of the act before the High Court.
The panel said, “Once a party approaches the court challenging the validity of an Act, where is the question of holding protest?” To this, the Attorney General answered, “Your Lordship is right. You can’t arrive at two houses at the same time. He has chosen his forum.”
The Attorney General also conveyed sadness regarding Sunday’s Lakhimpur Kheri event in front of the Supreme Court. “Such unfortunate incidents should not happen. The protest must stop,” said the Attorney General. To this, the Supreme Court suggested, “When such incidents happen, no one takes responsibility.”
On Friday, the Supreme Court had questioned Kisan Mahapanchayat. He is an anatomy of farmers and agriculturists to document an affidavit. This affidavit stated that they are not part of the team who are protesting on the borders that have jammed the highways.
Further, on Monday, the Supreme Court was informed by advocate Ajay Choudhary, who is the Counsel for Kisan Mahapanchayat, that they have already filed an affidavit mentioning that they are not confused in any blockage on any highway route.
Petition for Satyagraha:
He added, “We have served copies to the attorney general.” On Monday, the Division panel of Justice A.M. Khanvilkar and Justice C.T. Ravikumar had approved the command on an appeal. It sought guidance from the administrations to conduct a non-violent and peaceful Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
Moreover, the petition requested to give space to at least 200 farmers or protesters of the Mahapanchayat at Jantar Mantar. This is to organize Satyagraha and also to direct the Respondents not to block the troublemakers from progressing toward Jantar Mantar. These agitators are proceeding toward Jantar Mantar to perform the Satyagraha.
This petition is documented by Kisan Mahapanchayat, who is a figure of farmers and agriculturists through advocate Ajay Choudhary.
As reported in the petition, the tasks of the Respondents in slowing down the petitioners or the ‘Satyagrahis’ for an entire day when they are opposing peacefully and in a systematic manner as per the Covid Protocols progressing for the venue place to perform the Satyagraha following the Standing Order of Delhi Police, is offensive of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
Gandhi’s footsteps:
The Respondents’ performance is prejudicial and unpredictable as the permission to protest is given to a farmer figure while refusing the petitioner to conduct an astonishing Satyagraha in a wholly peaceful and non-violent way of protest as performed by the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi supposed the petition.
On March 18, 2021, the petitioner gave a representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the concerns regarding the agriculturists and their struggle to restructure the agricultural farms. On April 9, 2021, the petitioner requested the Commissioner of Delhi Police to perform a protest at Jantar Mantar.
This protest was on the miseries that the farmers or the protesters have regarding the agricultural rules approved by the Union Parliament.
The farmers are opposing and protesting against the approval 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 Service Act, 2020.
