SC asks Centre to explore the possibility of putting farm bill on hold

Supreme Court today asked the Centre to explore the possibility of putting farm legislation on hold. Supreme Court asks the Attorney General if the government can assure the Court that it will not take any executive action on implementation of the law till the court hears the matter

The farmer’s protest at border points in New Delhi has entered the 22nd day today. Supreme Court today asked the Centre to explore the possibility of putting farm legislation on hold. The apex was hearing a batch of petitions seeking the removal of farmers protesting at the borders of Delhi.

The apex court said that it acknowledged the right of farmers to protest but it had to be non-violent. “We recognise that the farmers have a right to protest. But we are on the mode of protesting. We will ask the Union what can be done to alter the nature of protesting which will ensure that rights of others are not affected,” the court said.

The Supreme Court bench also proposed setting up an independent committee that will hear both sides. In the meanwhile, the protests would be allowed to continue as long as they are not obstructive and not result in violence or damage.

Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for one of the petitioners, said, “No right is absolute. From right to protest to right to movement. The content of right to free speech, it includes the right to no but it cannot extend to right to privacy. Right to protest does not extend to deny others to exercise their rights.” he added, “Fundamental right to protest cannot extend to holding a city to ransom.”