The Supreme Court today issued notice in the suo motu matter concerning the involvement of children and infants in protests and demonstrations..Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance to stop involvement of children and infants in protests.The three-Judge Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant has issued notice to Delhi government and the Centre in the matter.The issue was taken up by the Court suo motu after twelve-year-old bravery award winner, Zen Sadavarte wrote to the CJI on the issue..When the Court took up the matter for hearing today, Advocate Shahrukh Alam, representing some of the mothers participating in the Shaheen Bagh protests, sought to intervene in the matter..She raised the concern of children being subjected to bullying in schools on account of their religion. She also added that there is a legal bar on the prayer in the matter, given that India has ratified UN Conventions on children's right to protest. However, CJI Bobde responded by remarking,."A child has died! Was a fourth-month-old child there to protest?"CJI SA Bobde .He proceeded to warn Alam against using the platform of the Supreme Court to raise unrelated issues and make "explosive submissions". He added that the Court was dealing with the specific question of the death of a child and that she ought not make submissions to "create guilt."."We have the highest respect for motherhood, and highest concern for children. Don't make arguments to raise and create guilt."CJI Bobde said..He added that the Court is not hearing the issues of CAA, NRC, rude behaviour in school, or such questions..After news of the death of the infant surfaced, a twelve-year-old bravery award winner form Mumbai, Zen Sadavarte, had written a letter to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, flagging the issue of involvement of children in protests..Involvement of children in protests against child rights: 12 year old bravery award winner moves SC after infant's death at Shaheen Bagh.Sadavarte had written to the Supreme Court that the inclusion of children and infants in protests amounted to "torture and cruelty.".Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area has been converted into a protest site against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 passed by Parliament. As the protest crosses the 50-day mark, an infant who was brought to the protest site reportedly succumbed to bitter cold and congestion after being exposed to the winter chill..Sadavarte had argued that the organizers of the Shaheen Bagh protests as well as the infant's parents failed to protect the rights of the deceased infant. Further, an investigation into the death was also urged for by Sadavarte..Claiming that the police failed to take cognizance of the involvement of children in the protests, Sadavarte had prayed for the Apex Court to direct authorities to prevent such involvement of children..Today, the Supreme Court issued notice in the pleas to remove protesters from Delhi's Shaheen Bagh and the clearance of Kalindi Kunj road. In doing so the Court also suggested that there needs to be an identified area for carrying out protests of this nature. It further questioned whether a public road can be blocked in this manner.."There should be an area identified for protest", Supreme Court issues notice in plea for clearance of Shaheen Bagh protest.[Read Order]
The Supreme Court today issued notice in the suo motu matter concerning the involvement of children and infants in protests and demonstrations..Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance to stop involvement of children and infants in protests.The three-Judge Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant has issued notice to Delhi government and the Centre in the matter.The issue was taken up by the Court suo motu after twelve-year-old bravery award winner, Zen Sadavarte wrote to the CJI on the issue..When the Court took up the matter for hearing today, Advocate Shahrukh Alam, representing some of the mothers participating in the Shaheen Bagh protests, sought to intervene in the matter..She raised the concern of children being subjected to bullying in schools on account of their religion. She also added that there is a legal bar on the prayer in the matter, given that India has ratified UN Conventions on children's right to protest. However, CJI Bobde responded by remarking,."A child has died! Was a fourth-month-old child there to protest?"CJI SA Bobde .He proceeded to warn Alam against using the platform of the Supreme Court to raise unrelated issues and make "explosive submissions". He added that the Court was dealing with the specific question of the death of a child and that she ought not make submissions to "create guilt."."We have the highest respect for motherhood, and highest concern for children. Don't make arguments to raise and create guilt."CJI Bobde said..He added that the Court is not hearing the issues of CAA, NRC, rude behaviour in school, or such questions..After news of the death of the infant surfaced, a twelve-year-old bravery award winner form Mumbai, Zen Sadavarte, had written a letter to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, flagging the issue of involvement of children in protests..Involvement of children in protests against child rights: 12 year old bravery award winner moves SC after infant's death at Shaheen Bagh.Sadavarte had written to the Supreme Court that the inclusion of children and infants in protests amounted to "torture and cruelty.".Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area has been converted into a protest site against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 passed by Parliament. As the protest crosses the 50-day mark, an infant who was brought to the protest site reportedly succumbed to bitter cold and congestion after being exposed to the winter chill..Sadavarte had argued that the organizers of the Shaheen Bagh protests as well as the infant's parents failed to protect the rights of the deceased infant. Further, an investigation into the death was also urged for by Sadavarte..Claiming that the police failed to take cognizance of the involvement of children in the protests, Sadavarte had prayed for the Apex Court to direct authorities to prevent such involvement of children..Today, the Supreme Court issued notice in the pleas to remove protesters from Delhi's Shaheen Bagh and the clearance of Kalindi Kunj road. In doing so the Court also suggested that there needs to be an identified area for carrying out protests of this nature. It further questioned whether a public road can be blocked in this manner.."There should be an area identified for protest", Supreme Court issues notice in plea for clearance of Shaheen Bagh protest.[Read Order]
