Supreme Court Refuses PIL Seeking a Judicial Inquiry into Farmer’s Tractor Rally Violence on Republic Day

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a PIL requesting a probe by a judicial inquiry commission into the Republic Day unrest during the farmers' tractor rally and granted liberty to withdraw and approach the ministry.

The PIL sought directions to set up an Inquiry Commission under the chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the whole aspect of the dispute between farmers and the Delhi Police that took place on Republic Day. The bench that heard the PIL included Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, Justice A.S. Bopanna and Justice V. Ramasubramanian.

The CJI pointed out during the hearing that the Prime Minister has stated that the law will take its own course, so the government is investigating it. CJI Bobde told the petitioner, "We are sure the government is investigating it and taking necessary action”

The petitioner Advocate Vishal Tiwari, submitted before the court, that the incident that took place in Delhi on Republic Day had a very serious effect on the public. "The farmer's protest was peaceful on the 25th, but it turned violent on the 26th," he said. Tiwari urged the court that the inquiry should not be one-sided and that the other side's argument should also be registered. CJI Bobde assured that both sides will be investigated and said, this is what an investigation means. He further argued that internet services have also been disrupted and shut down as a result of this incident which has left professionals and advocates to face genuine difficulties.

The petitioner also alleged that there could be involvement of some outside forces or organizations which conspired to cause disruption and to damage the peaceful protest to establish a clash between police and the farmers. Presence of lapses (maybe intentional) from the police side to create such a situation in which disturbances would definitely occur, cannot be overlooked either.

Tiwari had stated in the plea,

“All aspects are to be inquired and looked upon. The blame is on both sides and the matter is to be inquired by an independent agency i.e by setting up an inquiry commission under the chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court judge.