Can’t block roads, rules Supreme Court

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 9

Public roads can’t be blocked during protests and there should be free flow of traffic on roads, the Supreme Court said on Friday.

Hearing a PIL filed by a commuter against blocking roads connecting Delhi with Noida by farmers, a Bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul made the Haryana Government party to the case.

The SC clarified it was not concerned with larger issues relating to farm laws that can be decided judicially, politically or administratively and that it was only dealing with road blockade.

“We have said this before... roads should not be blocked. This is a single mother who has to face many issues because of blocked roads,” the Bench said posting the matter for further hearing on Monday.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the governments of Haryana, Delhi and UP.

As the main roads connecting Delhi and Noida remain blocked since the beginning of protests against farm laws in November last, the SC had, on March 29, issued notice to the Centre and the UP Government on a petition by a woman who said commuting had become a nightmare for her.

Acting on the PIL filed by Monicca Agarwaal, a resident of Noida and a single parent with some medical issues, a Bench had asked the Centre and UP Government to explain why the roads connecting Delhi and Noida were not kept free from blockades.

“We consider it appropriate to issue notice to the Union Government and others to ensure that the road area is kept clear so that the passage from one place to another is not affected,” it had said.