Engage in peaceful protests, don't cause inconvenience to people: Supreme Court tells protesting farmers

The Supreme Court on Monday addressed the ongoing protest by Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border to demand the acceptance of farmers' rights.

The court advised Dallewal to ensure that protesting farmers refrain from obstructing highways and causing public inconvenience.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan disposed of a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Dallewal, who was removed from the protest site on the Punjab-Haryana border on November 26.


The petition had challenged his alleged illegal detention by the Punjab Police.

"We have seen that he has been released and he even persuaded a fellow protestor to end his fast-unto-death protest on Saturday," the bench observed.

Further, the top court noted that the issue raised by the farmers is already being considered in a pending matter.

Protest peacefully: SC

The bench acknowledged the right to protest but said that it should be done in a manner that does not cause inconvenience to the public.

"In a democratic setup, you can engage in peaceful protests but do not cause inconvenience to people," the bench said.

Justice Kant asked Dallewal to encourage peaceful protests that comply with legal standards and avoid disrupting public life.

"You all know that the Khanauri border is a lifeline for Punjab. We are not commenting on whether the protest is right or wrong," the court said.

At this stage, the court decided not to entertain Dallewal's petition but advised that he could approach the court later if needed.

Dallewal's detention

Dallewal's protest began on November 26, but hours before he initiated his fast-unto-death, he was allegedly removed from the Khanauri border by Punjab Police and taken to a hospital in Ludhiana.

He was discharged on the evening of December 1 and resumed his hunger strike at the Khanauri border the following day to demand the government's response to farmers' long-standing grievances.

Farmers have been camped at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their march to Delhi was blocked by security forces.

The protesters claim the central government has not taken adequate steps to address their demands, which have been pending since February 18.

Farmers’ demands

The farmers are seeking several key demands from the government, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, a waiver of farm debts, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 agitation.

The farmers' movement, led by various farmer unions, has gained national attention.

(With inputs from PTI)