As the situation of the farmer’s protest does not seem to ebb, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday (7 January) asked the Centre what it has learnt from the Nizamuddin Markaz congregation earlier this year that led to the spread of COVID-19.
The apex court observed that the same situation may arise with the protesting farmers if “precautionary measures” are not taken to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Right now thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab along with some professional political activists and politicians from the left are camped at various Delhi borders. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, “You must tell us what is happening?”
The other jurist on the bench are Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian further enquired, whether farmers protesting at various Delhi borders are taking precaution to contain the spread of Covid-19 the Solicitor General response was in the negative.
After hearing the AG, the top court observed that the congregation of farmers around the Delhi border it could potentially become a situation like the Nizamuddin Markaz congregation in the national capital in March last year.
The court then asked the Centre to file a report on the steps taken so far to contain Covid and issued a notice on a plea filed by Supriya Pandita through advocate Omprakash Parihar.
The top court expressed its concern and noted if precautions are being taken against the spread of Covid in large gatherings and ensure Covid-19 does not spread and asked the Centre to ensure guidelines are strictly followed.
Supriya Pandita was the same litigant who had filed a petition in the Supreme Court questioning the role of Centre, Delhi government and Delhi police for allowing the huge congregation, including foreign delegates who had come from many Islamic countries at Nizamuddin Markaz, which risked the health of people amid Covid-19.