The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition today regarding the reopening of highways, including the Shambhu border, which have been blocked by ongoing farmer protests. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan will address the petition that calls for directions to the Punjab and Haryana governments, along with the Union government, to remove protesters from the highways.
The petition argues that the blockade violates the fundamental rights of citizens and constitutes a crime under the National Highway Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. It further seeks legal action against those responsible for obstructing highways and emphasizes the need for protesting farmers to maintain law and order.
The issue of the Shambhu border blockade has been contentious, with protests frequently disrupting connectivity between Punjab and Haryana. On Sunday, protesting farmers postponed their planned march to Delhi after facing tear gas and water cannons from Haryana police at the Shambhu border. Farmer leaders have stated they will decide their next steps after reviewing the situation.
The ongoing demonstrations, which began earlier this year, mirror the historic 2020 anti-farm law protests. Farmers are demanding the legalisation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, among other issues. In February, the Haryana government had closed the Shambhu border to restrict farmers’ movement towards Delhi, further intensifying tensions.
The repeated closures of the Shambhu border have created significant inconvenience for Haryana, affecting commuters and trade between the two states. Haryana’s former Chief Minister and current Union Minister ML Khattar previously expressed frustration over the issue, labeling the blockade a “big problem” and accusing some protesters of attempting to destabilize the government. He claimed those on the Punjab side of the border were not genuine farmers but agitators with ulterior motives.
In August, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the state governments to remove barricades, but the matter remains unresolved, pending today’s Supreme Court hearing. The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for both the ongoing farmer protests and the affected regions’ connectivity.
As the Supreme Court takes up the petition, it marks another chapter in the complex and deeply divisive issue of farmers’ rights, public inconvenience, and government accountability, which has captured nationwide attention.
