“According to the Motor Vehicle Act, you can’t use tractor trolleys on the highway. You are travelling from Amritsar to Delhi on trolleys,” the bench comprising acting chief justice GS Sandhawalia and justice Lapita Banerji said, underscoring that “everyone knows about rights but there are constitutional duties” as well. The court said the farmers can go to Delhi by bus or using public transport. The bench also questioned the Punjab government for permitting such large assembly of farmers.

Also read: Farmers Protest Live Updates: ‘Find solution together’, Union Minister Arjun Munda appeals to maintain peace

This verdict was given while a public interest litigation (PIL) hearing was taking place which was moved by advocate Uday Pratap Singh, a resident of Amravati Enclave, Panchkula. The petitioner pointed out that the road blockade had been causing inconvenience to residents and was also a hindrance to the movement of ambulances, school buses and pedestrians since February 13.

Also read: Farmers to resume ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest on February 21| 5 updates

Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana governments submitted status reports on the situation on the ground during the hearing.

Uday Pratap Singh sought directions to remove restrictions imposed by invoking Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. He also called for the suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in several districts of Haryana, such as Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa, due to the farmers’ agitation.

Also read: Union minister Arjun Munda appeals for peace ahead of farmers’ protest, tells govt’s next

Hundreds of farmers have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border in response to the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march that began on February 13. These protestors have put forward 10 demands including a legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, the implementation of Swaminathan Commission’s formula, full debt waiver for farmers, pension for farmers and labourers, and withdrawal of cases against farmers during the 2020-21 protest and more.

Also read: Farmer body rejects Centre’s proposal on crop diversification, 5-year contract to procure 5 crops: What it said

Meanwhile, four rounds of talks of farmer leaders with the Centre have failed to bring about any conclusive results, even as the Union ministers met the farmers in Chandigarh in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Also read: Farmers set to resume protest; agri minister Munda urges peace

Moreover, the court has fixed the next date of hearing for next week and has sought a report on the outcome of parleys with farmers by the adjourned date.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stressed that farmers should be permitted to proceed with their march on Wednesday. “The intention of the govt was very clear that they would not let us enter Delhi at any cost…If you don’t want to find a solution through discussion with farmers then we should be allowed to march towards Delhi,” reported ANI

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai, “If the government wants to make India a developed nation, it can’t be done without increasing the income of farmers. The govt should take a decision on this soon,” reported ANI.

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Published: 21 Feb 2024, 07:00 AM IST