Image Courtesy:newswrapindia.com
The Supreme Court Bench directed the Delhi Police that it is at liberty to decide whether protesting farmers can be granted entry into the national capital or not for the Republic Day tractor rally.
The Chief Justice of India was hearing an application filed by the Delhi Police seeking an injunction against the tractor rally proposed to be carried out by farmers on the Republic Day to display their resentment against the contentious three farm laws.
As per a tweet by LiveLaw, CJI Bobde reportedly said, “The question of entry into Delhi is a law-and-order situation that is to be determined by the police. We have told the AG (Attorney General) and SG (Solicitor General) before that whether who should be allowed and who should not be allowed and the number of people who can enter are all matters of law and order to be dealt with by the police. We are not the first authority. You are at liberty to invoke all powers under the law.”
CJI : The question of entry into Delhi is a law and order situation that is to be determined by the police.
AG : This will be illegal. The entry of 5000 people into Delhi.
CJI : You are at liberty to invoke all powers under the law.#SupremeCourt#FarmersProstests #FarmLaws
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 18, 2021
The Attorney General KK Venugopal requested the Bench to pass a favourable order to this effect saying “it will strengthen our hands”. At this juncture the CJI asked the AG if the Union of India wanted the court to say that they have powers under the law. The AG reportedy replied, “We are facing an unprecedented situation”. The AG also said that the Court can pass such an order as the entire issue has been taken up by the Court. CJI SA Bobde then clarified that the top court has not taken up the entire issue and is dealing with only the aspect of protests.
LiveLaw quoted CJI saying, “We have not taken up the entire issue. The intervention of the court has been misunderstood. Anyway, we are adjourning the case today. The other bench will consider it the day after tomorrow.”
CJI : Anyway we are adjourning the case today. The other bench will consider day after tomorrow(a different bench composition is sitting today)#SupremeCourt#FarmersProstests #FarmLaws
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 18, 2021
Besides the CJI, Justices Nageswara Rao and Vineet Saran were hearing the matter today, on January 18. The order regarding the farmer protests on January 12 was passed by the Bench that comprised the CJI and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. The matter has now been accordingly adjourned till the day after tomorrow (January 20).
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