SC Issues Notices To Centre, State, Delhi Police On Shaheen Bagh Protest

New Delhi: The Supreme Court observed that people had a fundamental right to protest but a public road cannot be blocked indefinitely during the course of a hearing on the protests at Shaheen Bagh. The two-judge bench pointed out that there are designated areas of protest and that inconvenience cannot be caused to the public on an indefinite basis.

The Supreme Court had issued guidelines in 2018 stating that protests should be allowed in designated areas. Such protests on the basis of fundamental rights, should not cause inconvenience to others, petitioners contend.

Women protesters at Shaheen Bagh told television channels that they would arrive at a consensus on an alternative site after a dialogue among themselves. They also wanted the apex court to factor their plight while delivering its ruling. Many women protesters have also said that they were willing to consider an alternative site if the Supreme Court decided. The protesters offered to abide by the apex court's verdict.

One of the petitioners in the case, Amit Sahni told the media that the apex court had issued notices to the Centre, Delhi government and Delhi police in the matter. The Supreme Court has posted the matter for further hearing to February 17.

It may be recalled that protesters demonstrating against CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) have been sitting in protest in Shaheen Bagh area of the national capital for nearly 2 months. The protest has blocked arterial roads leading to NOIDA and other areas in the National Capital Region.