Hearing requests to remove the protest at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi against the citizenship law, the Supreme Court today issued notice to the government and Delhi police and noted that there can’t be “indefinite” protests on a public road.
“The protests have gone on for a long time. They have the right to protest, but there can’t be an indefinite period of protests in a common area. It might be in an area identified,” the Supreme Court said, on a petition asking for the protest to be removed because of the traffic problems and inconvenience to people.
The case will resume on February 17.
“Can you block a public route? One cannot block a public road and create inconvenience for others,” said the court, suggesting a designated area for the protest.
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But the court refused to deliver any interim orders, with the judges saying, “Let us hear the other side”.
On Friday, the Supreme Court had said it would take up on Monday – after the Delhi election – two Public Interest Litigations (PIL) asking for restrictions on protests leading to obstruction of public places.
“We do understand that there is a problem,” the court had said.
Critics of the protest say it has blocked the common and public road connecting Delhi to Noida, causing problems for hundreds of commuters.
Hundreds of protesters, mainly women and children, have been sitting at Shaheen Bagh in south Delhi for nearly two months against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Popular Register (NPR).
(With Agency inputs)