The Supreme Court Tuesday issued notice on an application filed by the Delhi Police to prohibit protesting farmers from holding a proposed tractor/trolley/vehicle march or any other kind of protest, seeking to disrupt the celebration of Republic Day.

A bench led by CJI SA Bobde asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to serve a copy of the application to the farmers’ unions. The matter will be heard thereafter on January 18.

Delhi police said that it has come to the knowledge of security agencies through various sources that a small group of protesting individuals/organisations had planned to carry out a tractor/trolley/vehicle march on Republic Day, and this was bound to create a massive law and order situation.

“The said proposed march/protest seeks to disrupt and disturb such celebrations which is bound to create a serious law and order situation and will cause an embarrassment to the nation”, the plea said.

The plea contended that the right to protest was always subject to countervailing public order and public interest. The right to protest, the plea said, can never include maligning the nation globally.