Right to protest can't justify endless occupation of a site: SC
The Supreme Court of India ruled that protest groups cannot occupy public sites indefinitely, emphasizing the need to balance the right to protest with the right to livelihood for local workers. The court suggested that protest sites should be designated in a way that does not disrupt daily business activities.
Why it matters
This ruling sets a significant legal precedent for balancing fundamental rights in a democracy, specifically addressing the tension between civil dissent and economic stability.
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday said no group, political party, NGO or civil society outfit could occupy a protest site indefinitely.A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said there were competing fundamental rights right to carry on trade and business and right to free speech and expression when senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for traders, said the court must restrain all parties, NGO and civil society groups from holding protests in Delhi for the next two months to enable businesses to resume and to ensure that workers got their due.The court asked a traders’ association, which has sought Rs 1,000 crore in damages due to protests by CJP and opposition INDIA bloc during the festive season, to implead the protest organisers in the case for determination of compensation and how it is apportioned if it is awarded.Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said those…
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