Punjab High Court rebukes Farm Protesters, bans tractor trolleys on highways

The Punjab and Haryana high court, led by acting chief justice GS Sandhawalia and justice Lapita Banerji, expressed concern over the large assembly of protesting farmers at the Shambhu border, particularly with hundreds of tractors. The court emphasized that tractor-trolleys should not be utilized on highways, citing the Motor Vehicle Act. The bench also questioned the Punjab government's decision to permit such gatherings.

Legal proceedings and public inconvenience

During a hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Uday Pratap Singh, the court highlighted the inconvenience caused to residents and obstruction of emergency services like ambulances, school buses, and pedestrian movement due to road blockades since February 13. The petitioner sought relief from restrictions imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in various Haryana districts affected by the farmers' agitation.

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The ongoing protest, responding to the Dilli Chalo call, demands legal assurances for minimum support prices (MSP) for all crops, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, complete debt forgiveness for farmers, pensions for farmers and laborers, and withdrawal of cases against protesters from the 2020-21 agitation. Despite four rounds of unsuccessful talks between farmer representatives and the central government, with recent discussions in Chandigarh involving Union ministers and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, no resolution has been reached.

Court's directive and future action

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while scheduling the next hearing for the following week, requested a detailed report on the outcomes of negotiations with the protesting farmers by the adjourned date. Both state governments have submitted status reports on the ground situation to the court. The court's directives aim to address the ongoing impasse and ensure the rights and safety of all parties involved in the protests.

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