The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to explain why the roads connecting Delhi and Noida were not kept clear of any blockade. The roads had remained blocked for some months due to farmers agitation for the repeal of the three farm laws.
"We consider it appropriate to issue notice to the Union government and others to ensure that the road area is kept clear so that the passage from one place to another is not affected," a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and R Subhash Reddy said.
The court passed its order on a PIL filed by Monicca Agarwaal, who claimed it had become a nightmare to travel to Delhi where it was taking two hours instead of the normal 20 minutes.
In her plea, the woman said she stayed in Noida and her work base was also in Noida but since she was in a marketing job she has to travel to Delhi frequently.
She also claimed that she was a single parent and also had some medical issues.
She contended that despite the various directions passed by this court to keep the to and fro passage clear of the roads, the same still does not happen.
Even though the court said the matter reflected an administrative failure as the judicial view has already been, the woman insisted the bench ensure the people's right to passage should remain unhindered.
The court then decided to seek a response from the Union and Uttar Pradesh government and put the matter for consideration on April 9.
On October 7, 2020 judgement, the top court, while dealing with Shaheen Bagh sit-in against the Citizenship Amendment Act, had then declared that public roads and spaces can't be occupied indefinitely for protests, causing inconvenience to the people, and the demonstrations must be organised at designated places only.
Amid ongoing sit-in by farmers at Delhi borders since November last, the court had on February 9 dismissed the review petition against its previous judgement while again emphasising that the right to protest cannot be anytime and everywhere.
(Published 28 March 2021, 15:42 IST)
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