Farmers' Protest: Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs Haryana Govt To Ensure Unhindered Traffic On NH-44, Asks State To Use Force As Last Resort

Observing that NH-44 is the “life-line" of the country, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State to ensure free movement of traffic on the national highway “without any hindrance, so that the public at large, is not put to any kind of inconvenience”.

“This direction shall be given effect forthwith, without any further delay. However, at the same time, it is made clear that the administration shall exercise utmost restraint and would use force to disperse the mob collected at the spot, only as a last resort,” the division bench of Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul and Justice Manisha Batra observed.

It further directed Haryana's Chief Secretary to submit a report stating the steps taken in pursuance of the directions along with status report on next date, June 16.

The court was hearing the application filed in a PIL for issuance of directions to stop the protestors from gathering at National Highway-44, at the behest of Bhartiya Kisan Union and others. It was argued that the Union had removed the blockade after the directions issued in September,2022 but it has again threatened to block the road in case the purchase of produce of Surajmukhi crop is not initiated at the earliest.

A large "mob" has been gathering since today afternoon at Shahabad, the petitioner alleged. The petitioner played video recording of News Channels wherein some leaders of Union are seen asking the administration to divert traffic from NH-44, as they would soon start blocking traffic, the court noted.

Considering the video recording, photographs and other material on record, the court issued the directions to keep the NH-44 open for free flow.

The matter is listed on June 13 for further consideration.

Case: Randeep Tanwar v.State of Haryana & others

Advocate Padamkant Dwivedi appeared for the petitioner.

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