Farmers' protest: SC dismisses PIL in SC seeking direction to clear blockade of highways in Punjab

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking directions to the Centre and others to immediately clear the national and state highways in Punjab blocked by agitating farmers, saying it cannot entertain repetitive petitions on the issue.

"We are already examining the larger issue. You are not the only conscience keeper of society. Don't file repetitive petitions. Some are filing for publicity interest and some are filing to play to the gallery. We cannot entertain repetitive petitions on the same issue," a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant told petitioner Gaurav Luthra, refusing to entertain the PIL.

Luthra -- who claimed to be a social activist from Punjab -- urged the top court to tag his petition with other pending matters but the Bench refused to oblige him.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha activists have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.

The petitioner had sought directions to the Centre and others to remove restrictions on farmers’ protests and to ensure that national highways and railway tracks are not blocked by the agitating farmers. It accused farmers' and farmer unions of blocking the entire national and state highways in Punjab permanently and for an indefinite period. 

“People of Punjab and neighbouring states are facing great difficulty as they are unable to reach hospitals on time in case of medical emergency, as even ambulances are being stopped from running on national and state highways in the entire state of Punjab," the petition submitted.

"The state of Punjab is being targeted by the foreign, external and anti-national forces with the intention to use alleged farmers and farmer unions to de-stable Punjab as Punjab is the backbone of the entire country and has a history of facing many attacks from neighbouring countries," it alleged.

"The alleged farmers and their farmer unions have blocked the national highway at the entry point of Punjab, ie, Shambu for more than one year and recently blocked national and state highways in the entire state of Punjab at various locations on October 24, 2024," it said.

The blockage of highways was a threat to national security as the entire Army movement towards the northern borders of the country passes through Punjab, it submitted.

Free movement on highways comes under the fundamental right of the citizen, which is being violated by the farmers by blocking them in the entire state of Punjab, it said.