13 august 2024 : On Monday, the Supreme Court instructed the states of Haryana and Punjab to initiate a partial reopening of the Shambhu border, which has been obstructed due to ongoing farmers’ protests. The court declined to suspend a judicial investigation into the death of a farmer that occurred during a confrontation between protesting farmers and Haryana security forces in February.

    In addressing the blockade on the national highway at the Shambhu border, a bench led by Justice Surya Kant mandated that the directors general of police from both Punjab and Haryana, along with senior superintendents of police and deputy commissioners from Patiala and Ambala, convene within a week. The purpose of this meeting, as stated by the court, is to establish the procedures for a partial reopening of the highway, ensuring access for ambulances, senior citizens, women, students, and other essential services.

    The bench, which also included Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, urged both states to independently resolve the matter and to implement any mutually agreed solutions promptly, without awaiting further directives.

    In February, the Haryana government had erected barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway following announcements from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha regarding a march to Delhi to advocate for various demands, including a legal assurance of minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural products.

    During the proceedings, Gurminder Singh, the advocate general for Punjab, sought the court’s guidance to ease the blockade, permitting vehicles involved in essential services and daily commutes to pass. In response, the bench suggested that Punjab should first convince the farmers to remove the tractors and trolleys obstructing the highway, emphasizing that highways are not designated for parking. “Why don’t you persuade the farmers…because highways are not parking space for tractors, trolleys etc,” the bench remarked to Singh.

    Additionally, the court recommended that the Haryana government consider keeping at least one lane accessible for vehicles transporting vulnerable individuals, such as senior citizens and those in need of medical care. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Haryana, was also present during the discussions.

    Punjab Khabarnama

    Punjab Khabarnama

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *