NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said highways are not for parking of tractors, trolleys and JCBs, as it directed the Punjab and Haryana DGPs to hold a meeting with police heads of surrounding districts to partially open Shambhu border barricaded due to farmers protesting over there since February 13 over their various demands.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan commended both the States for suggesting the names of neutral persons for a committee to be formed for resolving the matter.
After hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for Haryana and Gurminder Singh, Advocate General of Punjab, the bench said, "We direct the senior superintendent of police of Patiala and Ambala and the deputy commissioners of both the districts to held a meeting and lay down the modalities for partial opening of the highway initially for the purposes of ambulances, essential services, girl students and daily commuters of the nearby area."
The court also noted that the States have suggested names in compliance with its earlier orders, for the purpose of the constitution of a committee.
"We appreciate the initiative taken by the States by suggesting the names that are apolitical. An appropriate committee along with the issues to be determined (subsequently) and appropriate recommendation shall be made," the bench said.
The court said that it was hopeful that there would be an amicable and respectable solution.
"Now that being the situation why do not you (Punjab and Haryana) persuade the farmers...because highways are not for parking (space)," the bench orally said.
Appreciating Punjab, Haryana government's for their best efforts for suggesting apolitical names for proposed panel for talking to protesting farmers at Shambhu border, the court said that partial opening of road at Shambhu border needed for facilitating movement of ambulances, essential services and local commuters.
The apex court said that it would pass brief order on terms of panel to be constituted for holding talks with the protesting farmers at Shambhu border on the next date on August 22.
On August 2, the Supreme Court on had asked Haryana and Punjab governments to suggest possible names of neutral and eminent persons who can be part of a committee to resolve the issue of farmers.
The Haryana government filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the July 10 order by the Punjab and Haryana high court order to remove within a week the barricading at the Shambhu border near Ambala.
