Supreme Court: Occupying public place for protest is not acceptable

The Supreme Court has said public places cannot be occupied indefinitely like during the months-long anti-citizenship law protest at Shaheen Bagh.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday held the protests led by scores of mothers, children and senior citizens of Shaheen Bagh against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act by blockading a public road in the national capital were “not acceptable”.

It said protests should be at a designated place and any occupation of public places or roads by demonstrators, which cause inconvenience to a large number of people and violate their rights, is not permissible under law.

The verdict came on a plea of lawyer Amit Sahni against the blockade of a road in Shaheen Bagh area by those protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act .

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“Public spaces and places can’t be occupied indefinitely whether in Shaheen Bagh or elsewhere. The administration must keep such spaces free from obstructions. Not wait to fire from court’s shoulder,” said the top court today.

“Delhi Police ought to have taken action to clear Shaheen Bagh area,” the Supreme Court said on the anti-CAA stir.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that dissent and democracy go hand in hand but protests must be carried out in designated areas.

The bench also said that Delhi Police ought to have taken action to clear Shaheen Bagh area from the protesters.

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