The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Centre and state governments to consider the reasonable demands of the protesting farmers and to allow them to move to Delhi.
The Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan permitted the case to be withdrawn, taking into consideration the petitioner’s request to amend the petition. Before passing the order, Justice Surya Kant expressed reservations about the manner in which the petition had been filed, asking not to file a petition on the basis of news items.
He added that these are very serious issues and a person who is really committed, who is sincere and serious to these issues only should file a plea and not everyone. He also remarked that people should not bring such cases to the apex court only for publicity purposes. Furthermore, the bench also suggested that the petitioner should consider assisting the High Court, where the matter is already pending consideration.
The petition was filed by Agnostos Theos, Managing Director of Sikh Chamber of Commerce. The plea sought directions to the Centre and State governments to consider reasonable demands of protesting farmers and to ensure their free movement through public transport across national capital borders.
The plea stated that protesting farmers were being treated unfairly by the governments. It also pointed out that farmers from Punjab had been detained in disrespectful, harsh and aggressive ways for simply wanting to travel to Delhi in their private vehicles.
Based on Article 19(1) of the Constitution, the petitioner sought inter-alia direction to authorities to not cause hindrance in farmers’ peaceful march and gathering in the national capital, a direction to the National Human Rights Commission to enquire and submit a report on alleged human rights violations by the police force’s brutal attack and assault on protesting farmers, and a direction to authorities to take action against those who are defaming farmers and Sikhs, or hurling abuses, derogatory terms and threats, or sowing dissension disrupting the communal harmony in the country.