The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition that sought to reopen the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch of the road that connects Delhi with Faridabad NOIDA. The arterial road had been shut since December 15 causing inconvenience to commuters.
However, a division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Hari Shankar dismissed the petition stating that it was the police’s responsibility to manage traffic and maintain law and order. The court had directed that the petition be treated as representation by the authorities and to be decided in accordance with law, keeping in mind the permissions given by the police to the protestors, effect on the traffic and inconvenience caused to the public at large.
Advocate Amit Sahni who moved the petition submitted that the road closure was leading to inconvenience to people. It was not only forcing them to take alternate routes, but was also causing traffic congestion at places like Ashram where it was taking 15 to 20 minutes to cross just one traffic signal. He also said that school going children were being forced to leave their homes two hours before their school timings because of the road closure.
On January 10, the HC had refused to entertain another petition to remove protesters from Shaheen Bagh to clear road blockages.
In wake of the Delhi HC order, NDTV reported that the Delhi Police was in touch with religious leaders urging them to persuade protesters to clear the road. This video appeared on Twitter showing how police were assuring protesters that since their protest was peaceful they would not be forcefully evicted and that the police would help them by putting up barricades if people willingly clear the way for at least one lane of the road.