Shaheen Bagh: “Can a public highway be blocked”, asks Supreme Court while issuing notice to Centre and Delhi Govt

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE Supreme Court today issued notice to the Central Government, Delhi Police and Delhi Government on the petitions seeking removal of protesters from Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh and clearance of Kalindi Kunj road, where anti-CAA protests have been going on for more than a month.

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul who was presided the bench remarked, “you cannot block public road indefinitely. If everybody starts protesting everywhere, then what will happen? You can protest at a designated area”?

Another judge on the bench, Justice K M Joseph added, “can you block a public highway?”

These observations came from the bench when advocate Mehmood Pracha, appearing for Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad sought to intervene in the matter.

The Court, however, refused to pass any interim order in favour of the petitioners despite a fervent request by them.

Next hearing in the matter has been fixed for February 17, 2020

The court was hearing two petitions on the same issue. The first petition has been filed by lawyer and activist- Amit Sahni while the second petition was filed by BJP leader Nand Kishore Garg.