The Supreme Court directed the Haryana government to open the barricaded Shambhu border and regulate traffic. In a sharp rebuke, the court questioned how any state government could block a highway.
“How can a state block a highway? It has a duty to regulate traffic. We are saying open it but regulate (movement of vehicles),” Justice Ujjal Bhuyan asked the counsel representing the Haryana government.
This observation by Justice Bhuyan and Justice Surya Kant came after the Haryana government's counsel informed the court that the state was planning to approach the Supreme Court against the July 10 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court had directed the state to resume traffic within seven days at Shambhu.
The border between Punjab and Haryana has been heavily barricaded and closed since February 13, when various farmer organizations from Punjab began moving towards Delhi in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
Clashes with Haryana Police and central security forces ensued, preventing the farmers from crossing the border. They have been camping there ever since.
Welcoming the high court's order, farmers stated they will resume their march to the national capital.
“It is now clear that it was Haryana that had blocked the national highway and caused inconvenience to both us and lakhs of people. We will meet on July 16 after barricades are removed as ordered by the high court,” said Sarwan Singh Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC).
Ramandeep Singh Mann of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) added that the ‘Delhi Chalo’ call was never canceled.
“We will ask the authorities concerned to designate a venue in Delhi to allow us to protest peacefully,” said Mann.
