[Farmers Protests] Plea to permit Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar: Live Updates from Supreme Court

The plea is being heard by a Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar. The Bench had earlier observed that since the farmers have approached courts challenging the laws, the protesting farmers should repose their faith in the system and courts instead of continuing with the protests. "If you have faith in courts, pursue that for urgent hearing instead of protesting. You have strangulated the city and now you want to come inside the city and protest. This coaxing should stop. You have blocked highways and roads," the Court had observed. However, the petitioner maintained that it is not part of the protests blocking roads and highways. The Court had then asked the petitioner association file an affidavit to that effect which it did. .Live updates follow:.The Supreme Court is hearing a petition filed by Kisan Mahapanchayat seeking permission to stage a Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar in Delhi..Adv Ajay Chaudhary: copy served to Attorney General.AG KK Venugopal appears on screen..Chaudhary: Kisan Mahapanchayat is neither a part of protesters at Delhi border nor has caused any permanent or temporary blockage of traffic. We parted ways from other bodies after January 26 incident..AG: We have issued two circulars.Court: Once the party approaches the court challenging the validity of the Act, after that what is question of protests? Once you have come to court, you have exercised your option. Plea has been filed in Rajasthan High Court..SC: Person who has challenged executive action or legislation, then why should executive allow the protests even if permissible?AG: You are correct. They have chosen this forum and if the Act is struck down, then their cause is met..SC: We will transfer your plea in Rajasthan High Court to here and hear the case. Once you challenge the executive action, then matter is sub judice. Then how can you protest? Protest against whom?.SC: Only courts can decide the validity of the executive action.Chaudhary: In Rajasthan HC, we had challenged validity of an Act on the basis of a constitutional provisionSC: There is no Act at the moment. It is stayed at the moment, protest for what??.SC: We will transfer the Rajasthan matter here and hear both the cases together. You have challenged the validity of the Act. We can decide the validity itself. But what is the question of protests?.Chaudhary: Our protests are not limited only to the enactments, it is also in a positive manner that MSP should be included, which is a long-standing demand.SC: Show us your request to the authority on why you want to protest?.SC: When you have challenged the law then why you should be allowed to protest? You have to decide whether to come to court, to Parliament or streets.Chaudhary: It's a concerted effort, the issues need to be addressed..SC: We will transfer the plea from Rajasthan HC and decide validity of the three Acts. We have to decide the legal question on when you have approached courts, then how can you protest on the same issue..SC: No one takes responsibility for damage to properties and assets.SG Tushar Mehta: When the matter is before highest constitutional court then what protest?SC: Which law is there? law is not there...it is stayed at the time being..AG: Till the validity is decided, protests cannot continueSC: They say they are not part of the protests, but they want to protest at Jantar Mantar..AG: A lot of unfortunate incidents take place during these protests.SC: We have heard AG, who graciously appeared pursuant to a request made by this Court. we deem it appropriate to examine the principal issue as to whether right to protest is an absolute right..SC: More so whether the petitioner having invoked the legal remedy by approaching the constitutional court should be permitted to or have resort to protest against the matter which is sub judice.Since plea is pending before Rajasthan High Court, we direct the same plea to be transferred to this Court. We direct Registry to summon case details from the High Court and transfer the case so that both petitions can be heard on October 21..SC: Respondents to file a reply. Open to Union of India to file a consolidated reply to both the petitions. We make it clear that plea will proceed for hearing on scheduled date.

[Farmers Protests] Plea to permit Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar: Live Updates from Supreme Court

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