Will award compensation if Delhi protests impact traders, daily-wagers: Supreme Court
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
The Supreme Court on Friday warned it would invoke its constitutional tort jurisdiction to award compensation if protests in Delhi disproportionately impede traders and daily-wage earners from pursuing their livelihoods, as it expressed concern over the hardship faced by small businesses during the festive season.
Adding to this, The court hoped that the situation would be handled with due regard for the economic vulnerability of small traders. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the remarks after a plea raised concerns over the proposed gathering at Central Park in Connaught Place by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), while hoping that “better sense will prevail” and that the competing interests of protesters, traders and the authorities would be balanced.
Meanwhile, “If there is loss of business, if it is unlawful to your clients, we will exercise our powers under constitutional tort jurisdiction. Let’s cross that bridge when it comes,” Justice Bagchi told advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, who mentioned the petition on behalf of a traders’ association.
Notably, The court’s observations came a day after the Delhi High Court recorded an assurance from Delhi Police that it would take “all possible measures under the law” to regulate the proposed gathering and address apprehensions that it could disrupt business and movement in the Connaught Place area.
As per the latest buzz, Dehadrai told the Supreme Court that the proposed protest threatened substantial losses to traders, particularly when businesses depend on the festive season for a significant share of their earnings. He claimed that the disruption around Connaught Place was causing losses of more than ₹ 250 crore rupees a day.
In further updates, “This is also related to protest. It can wait till October 26,” CJI Kant shared initially, indicating that the matter would not be taken up immediately. Justice Bagchi pointed out that the Delhi High Court had heard a similar petition on Thursday.
On top of that, When counsel insisted that the plea before the Supreme Court raised distinct concerns, Justice Bagchi shared the competing claims of protesters, traders and law enforcement agencies had to be considered together.
“Someone wants to protest, someone wants to sell moongfali (peanuts), someone wants to maintain law and order. All are there before us. We can hear it after a week,” he shared.
Source: Hindustan Times