Supreme Court Deems Farmers' Protest Issues as Serious, Discourages Filing Petitions for Publicity

On Monday, the Supreme Court highlighted the gravity of issues related to the farmers' protest and urged a litigant to refrain from filing petitions based solely on newspaper reports for the sake of publicity. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan permitted petitioner Agnostos Theos, the Managing Director of the Sikh Chamber of Commerce, to withdraw his plea alleging violation of the rights of the "peacefully protesting" farmers by the Centre and some states.

At the outset of the hearing, a counsel for Theos requested the withdrawal of the plea, stating an intention to amend the petition. "These are very serious issues. Don't file these petitions based only on newspaper reports for publicity purposes. Only those persons who are serious and committed should file these petitions. If you have gone through the newspaper reports, then you must be aware that the high court is seized of the matter," Justice Kant advised the counsel.

The bench informed the petitioner that the high court has already issued certain directions on the issue. "Next time be careful. Do your own research, these are complex issues," the bench advised the counsel, allowing him to withdraw the petition.

In his plea, Theos claimed that the Centre and some states have issued "threats" and fortified the national capital's borders following protests by several farmer unions seeking a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for their crops and implementation of the Swaminathan committee's recommendations.

The plea alleged that some protesters were arrested and forcibly detained by various state governments, and that the Centre unduly invoked prohibitory measures, including blocking social media accounts, rerouting traffic, and blocking roads. It further alleged that the governments of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh employed "aggressive and violent measures", such as using tear gas, rubber bullets, and pellets against the farmers, causing them serious injuries.

The plea claimed that in the absence of medical aid, the injuries worsened and also resulted in deaths. It added that fortifications at Delhi's borders have created a "hostile and violent situation", preventing the farmers from exercising their democratic right to protest.

The plea sought a direction to the Centre, the four states, and the National Human Rights Commission to "consider the reasonable demands of the farmers from across India, who are in continuous peaceful protest, demonstration, and agitation". It also sought directions to the respondents to ensure "fair and respectful treatment of the protesting farmers", besides allowing free movement. The plea sought a report about alleged human rights violations by police, as well as adequate compensation for the victim farmers and their families.

(With inputs from PTI)