New Delhi: The Supreme Court on October 6 held that public places and roads cannot be occupied by people indefinitely for demonstration.
The apex court verdict came on a batch of petitions against the protests at Shaheen Bagh in South Delhi by women against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
A bench, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, pronounced the verdict through video conferencing.
The court said that no person can block public places or carriageway to demonstrate. It made it clear that protest is not acceptable at a public place and added that the authorities concerned should see it.
“Public spaces and places can’t be occupied indefinitely whether in Shaheen Bagh or elsewhere. The administration must keep such spaces free from obstructions. The protest should go on at the designated places,” the bench held.
The bench had on September 21 reserved its order on a number of petitions seeking guidelines and other directions on the right to protest in wake of the Shaheen Bagh protest where a group of people had gathered for months to protest against the CAA blocking a key road connecting Delhi and Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
O! Great!! Another way of stifling the voice of the people in our democracy!
Is someone being naive here? Indeed, if one does not hold a public protest in a public space/place where alone it cane be both seen and heard, both nationally and internationally, what is the purpose of protesting at all? By holding a protest in ‘designated places only’ which protester would be even seen, leave alone heard? O come on! Give us a break!!