Shaheen Bagh: Supreme Court To Hear Pleas Seeking Removal Of Protesters After Delhi Polls On February 10

The Supreme Court said it would hear on February 10 the pleas against protests at Shaheen Bagh as it did not want to "influence" the Delhi assembly elections by hearing the matter on Friday. Polls in the national capital will be held on Saturday. The top court said it would take up the matter on Monday in connection with two PILs seeking a direction to Central government for laying down comprehensive guidelines relating to outright restrictions for holding protest leading to obstruction of public places.

One of the advocates Shashank Deo Sudhi started arguing and said that Supreme Court should pass appropriate directions to the concerned authorities as far as the protestors in Shaheen Bagh is concerned. 

"We understand there is a problem and we have to see how to resolve it. We will take it up on Monday. We will be in a better position by then," a bench comprising justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said.

When an advocate appearing for one of the petitioners said that voting for Delhi election is scheduled on February 8, the bench said, "That is exactly why we are saying come on Monday. Why should we influence it?"

The bench also asked the petitioners to come prepared on Monday to argue on why the matter should not be remitted back to the Delhi High Court.

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The Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh road connecting Delhi and Noida has been closed since December 15, due to ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

On Monday, a plea was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the authorities to remove from Shaheen Bagh protestors agitating against CAA since December 15 last year, saying they are causing hardship to people by blocking arterial road connecting Delhi to Noida. The plea filed in the top court has sought laying down of comprehensive and exhaustive guidelines relating to outright restrictions for holding protests or agitations leading to obstruction of public place.

The plea, filed by former Delhi MLA Nand Kishore Garg, said the law enforcement machinery was being "held hostage to the whims and fancies of the protesters" who have blocked vehicular and pedestrian movement from the road connecting Delhi to Noida.

Advocate Amit Sahni, who had approached the high court with a plea seeking directions to the police to ensure smooth traffic flow on Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, has also filed an appeal in the apex court against the January 14 order of the high court. Delhi High Court had directed the local authority to deal with the situation keeping in mind the law and order.

Sahni has filed a special leave petition in the apex court seeking supervision of the situation in Shaheen Bagh, where several women are sitting on protest, by a retired Supreme Court judge or a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court in order to circumvent any violence.