The Haryana government appealed to the Supreme Court against a High Court order mandating the removal of barricades at the Shambhu border. Represented by advocate Akshay Amritanshu, the government cited concerns over the law and order situation to justify maintaining the blockade.
New Delhi: The Haryana government appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge the high court’s directive to remove barricades from the Shambhu border near Ambala. The BJP administration contested the high court’s order, which stipulated the removal of the barricades within a week.
These barricades have been in place since February 13, due to farmers camping at the site.
On July 12, during a related hearing, the Supreme Court instructed the Haryana government to remove the barricades and questioned its authority to obstruct the highway.
Read Also: HC Ordered Haryana Gov. to Remove Shambhu Border Barricades in Seven Days
The Haryana government approached the Supreme Court to contest a High Court directive to dismantle barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala. This directive requires the removal of barricades within a week, which have been in place since February 13 due to farmers’ protests.
The protests organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, with demands such as a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
On July 12, during a related hearing, the Supreme Court questioned the Haryana government’s authority to obstruct the highway. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized the state’s responsibility to regulate, not block, traffic.
Justice Kant remarked,
“How can a state block a highway? It has a duty to regulate traffic. We are saying open it but regulate.”
Justice Kant further expressed concern about the state’s challenge to the High Court’s order.
He stated,
“Why do you want to challenge the high court’s order? Farmers are also citizens of this country. Give them food and good medical care. They will come, raise slogans and go back. I think you don’t commute by road.”
The Supreme Court‘s observations came as it reviewed Haryana’s plea against a March 7 decision by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This decision involved forming a committee, led by a former High Court judge, to investigate the death of farmer Shubhkaran Singh during a clash between protesters and Haryana security personnel in February.
Singh, a 21-year-old from Bathinda, was killed, and several police personnel were injured in the February 21 clash at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border. The confrontation occurred as farmers attempted to move towards the barricades, which were set up to prevent their march to Delhi.
The High Court also mandated that the state government could take preventive measures if any law and order issues arose. It issued a similar directive to the Punjab government, stating that barricades on its side should also be removed to ensure the smooth regulation of traffic and maintain law and order.
The barricades initially set up in February when the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) announced their plans to march towards Delhi. Their movement was in support of various demands, notably a legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP) for crops, which is crucial for the agricultural community’s sustenance and economic stability.