'Shaheen Bagh can not block public road', says SC asking Delhi Police to respond to pleas seeking removal of protesters

New Delhi, February 11: "The anti-CAA protesters, who are holding agitation at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi since the 15th of December last year, can not block the public road and create inconvenience for others", asserted the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The bench comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph also noted that people are entitled to protest but it has to be done in an area identified for agitations and it cannot be done on a public road or park.

 

 

Issuing notices to the Centre, the apex court asked the Delhi government and Delhi Police to respond to the pleas seeking removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh and ensuring smooth traffic flow on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, also posted the matter on the 17th of this month for further hearing.

 

Meanwhile, another bench took up the issue of an infant dying on returning home from Shaheen Bagh where his parents had taken him along to the ongoing protests against the Citizen Amendment Act. A bench here headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde took a strong exception to some of the lawyers opposing the court's taking suo motu cognisance of the matter. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said it was not correct that minors like the 4-month infant should be taken to the protest site.

 

The court took suo motu cognisance of the matter following a letter written to it by a national bravery award winner Zen Gunratan Sadavarte, who said that minors be barred from participating in any type of protest and agitation. The bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government seeking their responses on the issue. The bench made it clear that it was not stifling anybody's voice. The four-month-old baby passed away in his sleep on the night of 30th of last month after returning from Shaheen Bagh where his parents had taken him during the protest.