The Supreme Court on Thursday emphasised that roadscannot remain blocked perpetually and asked the Centre what steps has it takento remove the road blockade by farmers, protesting against three agriculturelaws at Delhi borders.
A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul told theCentre's counsel: "We have already laid down the law and you have toimplement it. If we encroach, then you may say that we have trespassed on yourdomain."
The bench further added, "How to implement the lawis your business. The court has no means to implement it".
The top court said there are grievances, which need to beaddressed and queried, "How can highways be blocked perpetually? Wheredoes it end". The bench emphasised the problem could be solved througheither judicial forum or parliamentary debates, but highways can't be blockedperpetually.
The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta andAdditional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj: What was the government doing in thematter?
Mehta, on his part, submitted that a high-level committeewas formed where farmers were invited, but they refused to join. He added thatcertain farmers' representatives have to be made parties in the matter, so thatthey are informed about the government plans. However, the bench said theCentre will have to implead them as parties, as the petitioner may not knowabout the leaders representing the farmers.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by MoniccaAgarwaal seeking directions to remove road blockades, which impedes freemovement of traffic between Delhi and Noida.
The bench told the Centre's counsel to move anapplication, pointing out steps taken and how impalement of some parties willhelp in resolution of dispute.
The top court has posted the matter for further hearingon October 4.
The top court on August 23 had asked the Centre to find asolution to the blockade of roads by farmers groups protesting against thethree agriculture laws. Earlier, the top court had observed that protestershave a right to protest at a designated space, but can't block public roads.
The petitioner had alleged that instead of the normal 20minutes, she ended up spending two hours for her travel from Noida to Delhi.