SC to farmers: Can engage in peaceful protests, but don’t inconvenience public

The plea alleged that Dallewal was “unlawfully detained” from the Khanauri border point on November 26, shortly before he was to commence a fast unto death demanding that the government accept the demands of farmers.

The plea claimed that Dallewal was “incommunicado and untraceable” for four days since then. It added that “the State, Union and its authorities are setting a tyrannical precedent by unlawfully detaining Mr Jagjit Singh Dallewal which is against the spirit of constitutional morality and the basic structure of the Constitution of India.”

On Monday, the court was told that he was “no more in alleged illegal custody”.

Taking note, the bench remarked: “We have seen that he has been released and he even persuaded a fellow protester to end his fast-unto-death protest on Saturday.”

Disposing of the petition, the SC bench once again underlined the need for maintaining public order.

Underlining that “the Khanauri border is a lifeline for Punjab”, the court clarified that “we are not commenting on whether the protest is right or wrong”.

Justice Kant remarked that Dallewal could persuade fellow protesters to keep their agitation within the bounds of the law without disrupting the daily lives of citizens.

The court also pointed out that the farmers’ grievances were already before the court in another matter dealing with the opening of the Singhu border. Though it said it is not entertaining the plea now, the court left it open for Dallewal to approach it in the future if needed.