The Supreme Court is hearing the pleas on the 10th of February, 2020 that sought the removal of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 protestors from Shaheen Bagh. The batch of petitions against the Shaheen Bagh after the Apex Court had deferred it's judgement in the view of the February 8th 2020 Delhi elections will be heard. The issue came before the court on Friday and the SC said it did not want to "influence" the Delhi assembly elections a day ahead of polls.
"We understand there is a problem and we have to see how to resolve it. We will take it up on Monday. We will be in a better position by then," a bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said.
When an advocate appearing for one of the petitioners said that voting for Delhi election is scheduled on February 8, the bench said, "That is exactly why we are saying come on Monday. Why should we influence it?"
The updates following the hearing are as :
- Supreme court remarked that the protests should happen only in designated areas. "You cannot block public road indefinitely. If everybody starts protesting everywhere, then what will happen", asked Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul. There has to be defined areas of protests.
- The matters are brought before the court. Please believe in the law despite that some people want to protest.
SC-- the matters are before court. Please believe in the law, despite that some people want to protest. Advocate Amit Sahni argues that the right to protest goes to some extent only. Supreme Court retorts that if the protests have been lasted for 58 days, you can wait for one more week. They have the right to protest, but there cannot be an indefinite period of protest in a common area.
- Notice has been issued to the Central Government, police regarding this.
Supreme Court has declined to pass an order to remove the protestors for now. The next hearing will be on the 17th of February 2020.
Author - Dyuti Pandya
