Supreme Court Declines Separate Hearing on Shambhu Border Blockade Plea

The Supreme Court has declined to entertain a fresh petition for the reopening of the Shambhu Border and other highways in Punjab, as the same matter is already pending before the court. A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant advised petitioner Gaurav Luthra to apply within the existing petition instead of filing a new one.

According to the petitioner, it was alleged that such extended agitations by farmers had blocked several highways illegally, such as the Shambhu Border, and in so doing infringed the constitutional rights to movement. According to the plea, roadblocking runs against the provisions of both the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the National Highways Authority of India Act; despite that, nothing had been done by the authorities so far.

The Supreme Court dismissed the plea as a publicity-seeking exercise, stating that public interest had already been dealt with in the earlier hearings. It pointed out the directives issued to facilitate dialogue and resolve the matter amicably.

The Supreme Court had earlier on 2nd September 2024 formed a five-member high-powered committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Justice Nawab Singh, which was mandated to engage with the protesting farmers and discuss issues related to MSP and barricade removal. It asked the protesting farmers not to politicize the protest and ensure that demands in any meeting be reasonable.