Can't occupy protest site indefinitely: SC's remark on Delhi traders' losses
Can't occupy protest site indefinitely: SC's remark on Delhi traders' losses
M.U.H
02/11/202626
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said a protest site cannot be occupied indefinitely as it sought responses from the government, Delhi Police and other authorities on a plea by a traders' body alleging losses of crores of rupees due to the shutdown of shops during the demonstrations in the national capital against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana observed that others too must have the opportunity to raise their grievances.
While hearing the petitions, which also raised concerns over mass detentions, alleged police brutality, the closure of Delhi Metro stations and internet shutdowns, the court emphasised the need to balance the right to protest with the right to livelihood.
“You can't occupy a site all the time. Where will farmers, journalists go? Everyone has the right to protest. Designated time must be given for a designated period,” the CJI said, underlining that designated time must be allotted for protests.
Chief Justice Kant further said that orders granting permission for protests must clearly define the terms and conditions under which permission is granted. "You can't prevent other people, that I am doing protest now, you can't," he said.
As protests gripped the national capital, traders raised concerns over mounting business losses, alleging that repeated shutdowns and disruptions linked to the agitations had hit commercial activity.
The Delhi Police's decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site on October 12, following a standoff with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), did little to resolve the concerns.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has claimed that Delhi's trade suffered losses estimated at Rs 11,000 crore on November 1 due to the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Ramlila Maidan, one of the three alternate protest sites.
According to the traders' body, the disruption affected retail and wholesale markets, transport, hospitality and tourism, with around 2.5 lakh shops remaining shut.
On Tuesday, the CTI wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner, demanding that rallies, protest marches and sit-ins be prohibited until November 11.
The traders' body claimed that frequent political rallies and demonstrations had caused businesses in the national capital losses of around Rs 14,000 crore over the past month.
PLEA ON ASSAULT ON WOMEN JOURNOS TO BE HEARD SEPARATELY
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court bench said the issue of alleged assaults on women journalists during the Delhi protests would be listed separately from the other matters and taken up on November 23.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising told the court that she had submitted names in a sealed cover for a proposed Special Investigation Team headed by a woman judge to exclusively examine complaints of sexual violence against women.
She said she was awaiting an order constituting the committee and sought clarity on whether a separate SIT would be set up to examine allegations of molestation of women journalists.
Another lawyer also raised allegations of assault on women police personnel.
