Punjab and Haryana High Court orders removal of barricades at Shambhu border

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, July 10

More than five months after the “unlawful sealing of the border between Haryana and Punjab” to prevent farmers from “protesting peacefully” came under the judicial scanner, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday ordered the removal of barricades at the Shambhu border.

Taking up a bunch of petitions, a division bench of the high court asked the states of Punjab and Haryana to coordinate with each other to remove the barricades.

A detailed order is awaited.

The direction comes amid increasing concerns about the disruption of traffic and the subsequent impact on daily commuters and transportation.

The Bench on the previous date of hearing had directed both the states to submit detailed affidavits on the ongoing blockade of the highways at the Shambhu border. Among other things, the states were asked to specify how long the position would continue. The Bench had made it clear that the affidavits must provide comprehensive details on the timeline of the highway closures, specifying when the blockades began and how long they were expected to continue.

The Bench had observed: “It is pointed out that the highways/national highways at the Shambhu border continue to be blocked, which is causing inconvenience to the commuters. Accordingly, both the states of Punjab and Haryana shall submit their affidavits regarding this aspect, by the next date of hearing, giving the details as to when it was closed and for how long the said position would continue.”

One of the petitions was filed by city-based advocate Uday Pratap Singh for the issuance of urgent interim order to stay all “obstructive actions” of the governments of Punjab, Haryana and the Union of India, against the farmers’ “peaceful” protests.

He said the road blockade not only caused inconvenience to the locals, but also hampered the movement of pedestrians, ambulances, school buses, and other vehicles.