The Supreme Court while hearing the plea filed by Delhi Police concerning the tractor rally to be organized by protesting farmers on Republic day, January 26 said that Delhi police is the first authority to decide on the law and order situation.
"The question of entry into Delhi is a law and order situation that is to be determined by the police. We have told the AG and SG before that whether who should be allowed and who should not be allowed and the number of people who can enter are all matters of law and order to be dealt with by the police. We are not the first authority. You are at liberty to invoke all powers under the law," Chief Justice of India, S.A. Bobde said while hearing the plea.
Attorney General asked the court to pass an order to that effect, it will "strengthen our hands." The Chief Justice of India said, "Does the Union of India want the 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 since the entire issue has been taken over by the court. CJI clarified that the court has just taken up the issue related to the protests while the entire issue is with the government.
CJI said, "The intervention of the court has been misunderstood."
"A small group of protesting individuals/organizations have 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 petition said the matter will be adjourned till Wednesday. It will be heard on January 20. When the CJI asked if the farmers' unions are appearing today, senior lawyer Dushyant Dave said he appeared on behalf of the unions.
What CJI observed on January 12?
Earlier, the Supreme Court had expressed their 'extreme disappointment' while staying the implementation of farm laws and forming a committee to look into the grievances of farmers on January 12.
It is to be noted that the CJI had said that there was no single 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 and had said on January 12, "Who will be responsible if there is violence or bloodshed. Court has a constituent duty to protect… Each one of us will be responsible if anything goes wrong. We don't want any injuries or blood on our hands."
10th Round of talks on January 19:
Now the farmers' unions are going to meet the government for the 10th round of talks on January 19 while the SC is going to hear the Delhi police's plea on January 20 i.e Wednesday.
The deadlock between government and farmers have seem to intensified because both the sides don't want to budge from their respective demands. While the union agriculture minister, Narendra Singh Tomar had said that most of the farmers and experts are in favor of the farm laws, the farmers' unions protesting at Delhi have something else to say.
The farmers' unions want the repeal of the laws and they are not happy with the committee constituted by the court.
Read More: Farmer's protest: Ahead of 10th round talks, minister says most farmers, experts in favor of laws