As the farmers' protest against the three contentious laws entered its 22nd day on Thursday, 17 December, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said that a protest is constitutional till it does not destroy property or endanger life.
Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tore up copies of the farm laws during a special session of the Delhi Assembly on Thursday.
On the other hand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, attended a meeting with BJP general secretaries to discuss the farmers' agitation, ANI reported.
- As protests intensify in Delhi, several farmers’ unions from other states have supported the Centre’s new farm laws
- A 65-year-old priest of a gurdwara killed himself near Singhu, with a ‘suicide note’ saying he was pained by the farmers’ plight
- Rahul Gandhi condoled the death of the religious leader. He also urged the government to immediately withdraw the new farm laws
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‘What Was the Hurry?’: Kejriwal Tears Farm Laws Copies in Assembly
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday tore up copies of the three farm laws that have been at the centre of the protests by farmers for more than 20 days.
Addressing a special session of the Delhi Assembly, called to discuss the agitation, Kejriwal said, "What was the hurry to get farm laws passed in Parliament during the pandemic? It has happened for the first time that three laws were passed without voting in the Rajya Sabha... I hereby tear the three farm laws in this Assembly and appeal to the Centre not to become worse than Britishers."
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'Govt Wants Amendments, We Want Them to Take Farm Laws Back'
BKU's Rakesh Tikait said on Thursday that while the government has agreed to amendments in the farm laws, they want them to take them back. "We'll discuss the future course of action in our panchayat. We have not blocked roads, barricades have been put up by the police. SC is right that the issue should be resolved soon. We'll go if we're called," he was quoted by ANI as saying.
Meanwhile, KV Biju, National Coordinator of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, said, "In our committee today, we took a decision about the case in the Supreme Court. We'll consult with four senior lawyers – Prashant Bhushan, Dushyant Dave, HS Phoolka and Colin Gonsalves."
No Order Passed by SC Bench Today
The bench did not pass any order today in the PILs against the farmers protests as there was no representation for seven out of the eight farmers unions which were added as respondents in the case, according to LiveLaw.
In this backdrop, the bench refrained from passing any substantive directions.
The Court only directed the service of notice on the remaining unions by tomorrow so that the matter may be listed before another bench on Saturday, LiveLaw reported. The bench also granted liberty for the vacation bench to be moved.
Can Union Give Commitment to Not Implement Laws While Court is Hearing Matter, Asks CJI
The CJI on Thursday asked the Attorney General if the Union can give an commitment that the laws will not be implemented while the court is hearing the matter.
The AG replied that he will get back after taking instructions from the Central Government, LiveLaw reports.