SC dismisses plea seeking free movement of farmers to Delhi

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a public interest litigation seeking directions to the Centre and state governments to consider the reasonable demands of the protesting farmers and allow them to move to the national capital.

Observing that PILs should not be filed for publicity, the SC allowed the petitioner to withdraw his plea.

The plea, filed by Agnostos Theos, the managing director of the Sikh Chamber of Commerce, sought a direction to the Centre, the four States — Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh — and the National Human Rights Commission to “consider the reasonable demands of the farmers from across India, who are in continuous peaceful protest, demonstration and agitation”.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and K.V. Viswanathan allowed the petitioner to withdraw his plea after a request for withdrawal was made at the outset by a counsel for Mr Theos, who said he intended to amend the petition. “These are very serious issues. Don’t file these petitions based only on newspapers’ reports and for publicity purposes. Only those who are serious and committed should file these petitions. If you have gone through the newspapers’ reports, then you must be aware that the high court is seized of the matter,” Justice Kant told the counsel.

The bench said the petitioner must know that the high court has already passed certain directions on the issue. “Next time, be careful. Do your own research, these are complex issues,” the bench told the counsel and allowed him to withdraw the petition.

The plea had sought directions to the respondents to ensure “fair and respectful treatment of the protesting farmers”, besides allowing free movement.

◗ OBSERVING THAT PILs should not be filed for publicity, the SC allowed the petitioner to withdraw his plea. The bench said the petitioner must know that the HC has already passed certain directions on the issue