Punjab and Haryana HC Issues Notice to Central Government and States Over Farmer Protest March to Delhi

Punjab and Haryana HC Issues Notice to Central Government and States Over Farmer Protest March to Delhi

On Tuesday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notices to the Central government and the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi regarding petitions concerning the ongoing protest march by farmers to Delhi.

Acting Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, a division bench, instructed the parties, including the Union and State governments, to submit status reports on the matter.

The court also recommended an amicable resolution of the disputes and suggested identifying areas for farmers to hold protests. Additionally, the court deemed it necessary to include the Delhi government as a party to the matter.

Farmers are marching to Delhi to protest for their various demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. In various parts of Haryana, authorities have issued orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to restrict the gathering or movement of farmers.

On Monday, two separate petitions were filed before the High Court. One petition sought action against the protesting farmers, while the other challenged the State's action of sealing borders and suspending internet in certain districts of Haryana.

Uday Pratap Singh, a resident of Panchkula and an advocate at the High Court, filed the petition, emphasizing the illegality of sealing the border between Haryana and Punjab, especially at Shambhu near Ambala. The plea underscored that the planned 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers on February 13, organized by various farmers' unions to advocate for their rightful demands, including the enactment of a law ensuring a minimum support price (MSP) for crops, is an expression of their democratic right to peaceful protest.

Furthermore, the petitioner expressed concerns regarding the actions taken by the Haryana authorities, which include the suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in various districts like Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa.

The plea highlighted that these measures exacerbate the situation by infringing upon citizens' right to access information and communication.

 

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