The Apex court stated that its earlier order of maintaining a status quo on the Shambhu border near Ambala, where farmers have been camping since February 13, will continue.
SC in February had directed the Haryana and Punjab governments to not remove protesting farmers from the Shambhu border area following the barricading of the border by the Haryana government.
On July 10, the Punjab and Haryana High Court noted that the border is a “lifeline” as it is a major route of road connectivity between Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi. HC observed that the border’s closure hampered movement of citizens.
Haryana government, in its plea to the Supreme Court, called the High Court’s order a direction that was passed on “experimental basis”. The government argued that the HC didn’t appreciate the “seriousness” of the ground situation.
“The impugned interim order has the consequence of causing serious law and order repercussions in the State of Haryana and threatens the life and property in and around the Shambu border as well as the other parts of Haryana, which the State government, i.e., the petitioner, is duty bound to protect under the Constitution,” the Haryana government said in its appeal to SC.Furthermore, the appeal said that the High Court passed the order even as the state categorically told the Court that law and order remain at risk, there is threat to life and property. The government’s plea said that despite its petition asking the removal of agitators from the National Highway, the HC instead directing the opening of the Shambhu border albiet on an “experimental basis”.Haryana government also said that the High Court didn’t pass any directions against agitators protesting at the Shambhu border. The state’s argument is that law and order are a state subject and hence, the responsiblity to maintain them lies with the state.
“It is based on these and other inputs that blocking or unblocking of the Shambu border has to be decided by the state,” the appeal added.
