Farmers' protest: SC to hear PIL seeking clearance of highways in Punjab on Dec 9

The Supreme Court will hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking direction to immediately clear the blockage of National as well as state Highways in Punjab on December 9.

The PIL said that the highways in Punjab are “encroached and blocked illegally by alleged farmers and farmer unions” at various locations in the state.



It seeks direction from the states of Punjab and Haryana and the Union of India to remove restrictions on farmers’ protests and also to ensure that all National Highways and railway tracks are not blocked by the agitating farmers.

Farmer protest

The farmer protest group had announced the resumption of 'Delhi Chalo' march on Sunday. Due to security concerns, Delhi police set up barricades and installed nails at the Shambhu Border.

The protesting farmers suspended their foot march to Delhi in for the day after in the afternoon after some of them suffered injuries in tear gas shelling by Haryana security personnel along the state's border with Punjab.

Farmer leader from Punjab Sarwan Singh Pandher said at least eight farmers were injured and one of them was rushed to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.

"We have called back the 'jatha' (group of 101 farmers)," he told reporters.


Police officials on Sunday fired tear gas to disperse farmers who began their 'Dilli Chalo' march to press the Centre for various demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP).

This comes as the farmers had to suspend their protest on Friday after some of them suffered injuries due to tear gas shells fired by security personnel, who stopped them at the Punjab-Haryana border. The farmers have been pressing for various demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP).