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Synopsis

Amid the ongoing farmers' protest in Punjab, a plea has been moved in the Supreme Court for a direction to the central government to consider farmers' reasonable demands, and free movements of public and transportation vehicles across border of the city of Delhi.

Agnostos Theos, Managing Director of the Sikh Chamber of Commerce, filed a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution for a direction to the relevant authorities to ensure fair and respectful treatment to the farmers, and not cause hindrance in their peaceful march and gathering in the national capital on "Dilli Chalo" call on February 13, 2024.

He also sought a direction to unblock the social media accounts and respect the right to free speech of the people sharing information about the farmer’s protest and to register FIR to probe such unconstitutional act.

The petitioner questioned the violent and aggressive show of force by the Haryana police to restrict the protesting the farmers from exercising their constitutional rights as enshrined under Article 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

"The fortification of the borders of the capital city portrays a negative image of the peaceful farmers," his plea said. 

It also claimed that the Government of India, and its police officials, and many news reporters of the country, in biased portrayal of the protesting farmers, have been calling them as “Khalistani” or “foreign agents” etc.

"The farmers, who feed us, toil for the nation, are being treated as if they are terrorists trying to cross into India," the petitioner claimed.

He also stated that the farmers from the state of Punjab have been detained and arrested in the most disrespectful, harsh and forceful ways for simply wanting to travel to Delhi, even in their private vehicles like motorbikes, just in the exercise of their democratic rights, seeking justice for their pleas and demands.

The farmers from various other states, who were coming to join the peaceful protest, through trains were forcefully deboarded from their respective trains in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and were forcefully sent to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh instead, the plea claimed.

The petition claimed that respondent governments have employed aggressive and violent measures like usage of tear gas, rubber bullet pellets, expired shells etc against peacefully protesting farmers, leading to serious and grievous injuries among the farmers.

Apart from the Union of India, the petitioner has named States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Govt of NCT of Delhi and the National Human Rights Commission as respondents.

Case Title: Agnostos Theos Vs Union of India & Ors