The Supreme Court while hearing the plea filed by DelhiPolice concerning the tractor rally to be organized by protesting farmers onRepublic day, January 26 said that Delhi police is the first authority todecide on the law and order situation.
"The question of entry into Delhi is a law and ordersituation that is to be determined by the police. We have told the AG and SGbefore that whether who should be allowed and who should not be allowed and thenumber of people who can enter are all matters of law and order to be dealt withby the police. We are not the first authority. You are at liberty to invoke allpowers under the law," Chief Justice of India, S.A. Bobde said whilehearing the plea.
Attorney General asked the court to pass an order to thateffect, it will "strengthen ourhands." The Chief Justice of India said, "Does the Union of India wantthe court to say that you have powers under the laws?"
KK Venogopal, the AG replies that they are facing an"unprecedented situation." AG further says that it is necessary sincethe entire issue has been taken over by the court. CJI clarified that the courthas just taken up the issue related to the protests while the entire issue iswith the government.
CJI said, "The intervention of the court has beenmisunderstood."
"A small group of protesting individuals/organizationshave planned to carry out a tractor/trolley/vehicle march on Republic Day,"stated the petition filed by Delhi Police.
The Chief Justice of India after hearing the petitionsaid the matter will be adjourned till Wednesday. It will be heard on January20. When the CJI asked if the farmers' unions are appearing today, seniorlawyer Dushyant Dave said he appeared on behalf of the unions.
WhatCJI observed on January 12?
Earlier, the Supreme Court had expressed their 'extremedisappointment' while staying the implementation of farm laws and forming acommittee to look into the grievances of farmers on January 12.
It is to be noted that the CJI had said that there was nosingle petition in the court that signals that the laws are good on January 12.CJI observed ineffectiveness of the government in dealing with the farmers andhad said on January 12, "Who will be responsible if there is violence orbloodshed. Court has a constituent duty to protect… Each one of us will beresponsible if anything goes wrong. We don't want any injuries or blood on ourhands."
10thRound of talks on January 19:
Now the farmers' unions are going to meet the governmentfor the 10th round of talks on January 19 while the SC is going to hear theDelhi police's plea on January 20 i.e Wednesday.
The deadlock between government and farmers have seem tointensified because both the sides don't want to budge from their respectivedemands. While the union agriculture minister, Narendra Singh Tomar had saidthat most of the farmers and experts are in favor of the farm laws, thefarmers' unions protesting at Delhi have something else to say.
The farmers' unions want the repeal of the laws and theyare not happy with the committee constituted by the court.