'This Business Should Stop': SC Lashes Out At Farmers' Body For Seeking Place To Hold 'Satyagraha'

"What is the point of doing satyagraha. You have approached the court. Have trust in court," said SC Justice Khanwilkar.

Supreme Court of India. (File Image)

The Supreme Court of India lashed out at Kisan Mahapanchayat - a farmers' group - while hearing a plea seeking permission to hold a protest of 200 people at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. A SC bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar said that the farmers' group have 'strangulated' the city and obstructed the security personnel.

The group had asked for permission to hold a non-violent protest ('Satyagrah') of about 200 people at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The court observed that as the farmers' unions have approached the courts against the three farm laws, the legality of it, now remains in the realm of the law. Thus, "There is no point in protest" as said by Justice Khanwilkar.

Supreme Court says protesting farmers have strangulated the entire city now want to come inside the city.

— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2021

"What is the point of doing satyagraha. You have approached the court. Have trust in court. Once you have approached the court, what is the point of protest? Are you protesting against the judicial system? Have faith in the system", Justice Khanwilkar said as quoted by Live Law. 

Justice Khanwilkar also held the farm bodies responsible for disrupting the borders of Delhi. "You have strangulated the entire city, now you want to come inside the city! The residents around, are they happy with the protest? This business should stop. You are obstructing security and defence personnel. This was in the media. All this should stop. There is no point in protest once you come to the court challenging the laws", Justice Khanwilkar said.

The judge observed that the farmers have blocked the national highways.

"We have not blocked highways. The police has detained us there," said the lawyer who appeared for the Kisan Mahapanchayat. They have submitted an affidavit in the court saying that they are not involved with the protest that is "blocking the national highways".

The farmers have staged a massive protest on various borders of Delhi since 26 November 2021 under the leadership of two different group, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC).