'Will Examine If Right To Protest Is An Absolute Right': SC On Farmers' Plea To Allow Satyagrah

The Supreme Court has said that it will check if right to protest is an absolute right in the country or not.

New Delhi: While the Lakhimpur violent clashes have angered the citizens of the country and have given an opportunity to the opposition to slam the ruling government, the Supreme Court on Monday said that it will verify if the right to protest is an absolute right in the country or not

The apex court was hearing a plea of Kisan Mahapanchayat to allow it to hold Satyagrah at Jantar Mantar. The Court said, " Will examine whether the right to protest is an absolute right."

The top court also made a reference to the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and said that "nobody takes responsibility when such unfortunate incidents take place". 

Attorney General KK Venugopal, while arguing for the Centre, said there should be no further protests to prevent incidents like in Lakhimpur Kheri. 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that once the matter is before the highest Constitutional court, nobody can be on the streets on the same issue.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by a farmers' body protesting against the three new farm laws and seeking directions to authorities to allow it to stage 'satyagrah' at Jantar Mantar here.

Kisan Mahapanchayat', the farmers and agriculturists body, and its president have also sought directions to the concerned authorities to provide space to at least 200 farmers or protestors of the body at the Jantar Mantar for organising peaceful and non-violent Satyagrah'.

The bench, which posted the matter for hearing on October 21, transferred to itself the plea, which was filed by the farmers' body before the Rajasthan High Court challenging the validity of the three farm laws.

Several farmer organisations are protesting against the passage of three laws -- The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.

Initially, the protests started from Punjab in November last year and later spread mainly to Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

(With PTI inputs)