Farmers' Protest: Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Removal of Blockades on the Punjab Highway

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition sought instructions for the Centre and other authorities to clear blockades on highways in Punjab, where farmers have been staging protests.

A social activist from Punjab had filed the petition, urging the court to direct the government to remove the restrictions imposed on the farmers’ protests. The petition also called for ensuring that national highways and railway tracks were not obstructed by the agitating farmers. The plea was heard by a bench led by Justice Surya Kant.

Farmers, led by groups like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13. Their march to Delhi was halted by security forces.

More recently, they had planned to enter Delhi on December 6 but suspended their march after police used tear gas to disperse them. The protest, part of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ movement, resumed on December 8 but was again stopped for the same reason.

According to the petition, “The alleged farmers and their farmer unions have blocked the national highway at the entry point of Punjab, i.e., Shambu, for more than a year. They have also blocked national and state highways in various locations across Punjab, including on October 24, 2024.” The petitioner claimed that such blockades posed a serious threat to national security, as the movement of the Army towards India’s northern borders passes through Punjab.

The petition further stated that the ongoing protests were causing immense inconvenience to the people of Punjab and neighboring states. It highlighted how residents were unable to reach hospitals in emergencies, with even ambulances being obstructed from using the highways. The plea argued that free movement on highways is a fundamental right of citizens, which was being violated by the farmers' actions.​