SC to resume hearing on Centre�s plea seeking injunction against farmers' Republic Day tractor march

20-01-2021

The Supreme Court will on Wednesday resume hearing on the Centre�s application seeking an injunction against the farmers� unions� proposed tractor march on January 26, aimed at disrupting the Republic Day celebrations on January. Ahead of the hearing, Kisan union leader Kalwant Singh Sandhu today said that a group of farmer union leaders meet top Delhi Police officials over the proposed tractor march. Another farmer leader today assured that their plan was not to disturb the Republic day parade. �We've told them that we'll hold tractor march at Ring Road, they should accept it. We'll have further information after the meet but they won't face any disturbance due to it,� Gurnam Singh Chaduni, of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said. Farmer leaders are scheduled to hold the 10th round of talks on the three contentions farm laws with the Central government today.

What happened at the last hearing on Monday
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At the last hearing on January 18, the apex court had told the Central government that the proposed tractor rally on the Republic Day by agitating farmers was a �law and order� issue and the Delhi Police should decide on the same. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said police officials should first take a call on who all can be allowed to enter the national capital. �Does the Supreme Court say as to what are the powers of police and how they will exercise them? We are not going to tell you what to do,� the bench, also comprising Justices LN Rao and Vineet Saran, said. The Centre had in its application filed through the Delhi Police contended that any such march or protest with an aim to disrupt and disturb the Republic Day celebrations will cause an �embarrassment to the nation�. The bench had told AG Venugopal that it was seized of the matter of farm laws and �we have not said anything on police powers�. �We will hear everyone on that day (next date of hearing),� the bench had said, posting the matter for further hearing today. The SC had on January 12 temporarily stayed the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders. It had also set up a four-member panel to make recommendations to resolve the deadlock between the Centre and farmers' unions who have been protesting at Delhi borders since late November.