'Here To Hear You': Top Court-Appointed Interlocutors Sanjay Hegde, Sadhana Ramachandran Reach Shaheen Bagh

Senior counsels Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran, the two interlocutors appointed by the Supreme Court, reached Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh on Wednesday. Addressing the protesters and media from the dais, Hegde read out the top court’s order and Ramachandran said that ‘we are here to hear you.’ Ramachandran said that, “Supreme Court has said that you have the right to protest. The law (CAA) has been challenged in the Supreme Court. But like us, others too have their rights, like right to use roads, open their shops.” Hegde added that, “we are here to talk to you, we are not in a hurry."

The mediators also said that they will not talk to protesters in front of the media. They said the media will be informed about the progress later. All media persons will be removed from the site. Hegde said that ‘we need to find a solution’. Ramachandran spoke about children facing inconvenience while going to school.

On February 17, the Supreme Court appointed senior counsel Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran as interlocutor to talk to Shaheen Bagh protesters. In a stern observation, the top court said that, “when strong views emerge, you cannot say don't put forth your strong views. Those things don't trouble us. Only thing troubling is blocking of a public road.” The apex court further said that, “people have fundamental right to protest but thing which is troubling us is blocking of public roads. Democracy works on expressing views but there are lines and boundaries for it.” The top court also added that, “if nothing works, we will leave it to authorities to deal with situation.”

On the blockade causing inconvenience to the general public, a bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said that, “there’s a law enacted, and challenge to it is pending in the Court. It’s fine that some people may want to protest. The protests have gone on for many days… There must be an area where you can protest. It cannot be held wherever one wants. It has to be in identified area… Otherwise people will go and protest anywhere.” The apex court was hearing petitions filed by Advocate Amit Sahni and Delhi BJP leader Nand Kishore Garg on the Shaheen Bagh blockade.