It is an era of "professional protestors": Centre tells SC

It is an era of "professional protestors" who like to protest outside Parliament or the President or the Prime Minister's house to make their voices heard, the Centre today told the Supreme Court, stressing that holistic steps are necessary to ensure peace and harmony.

The Centre was justifying the imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC in Central Delhi which houses most of the government buildings and VIP residences, after a PIL opposed continuous imposition of prohibitory orders, saying it obstructed the fundamental right to protest.

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, which is hearing a plea filed by an NGO challenging the ban of all assemblies and protests in Central and the New Delhi area, was told by the Centre that there were some instances in the past, when during the protests, law and order situation has arisen.

"We are in an era where there are some professional protestors who like to protest outside the apex court, Parliament, President's house or Prime Minister's house. They don't like any other alternative place for protests. Many a times, during the protests there is a serious law and order situation. As a government, we need to take holistic steps," Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sanghatan, said there cannot be continuous imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC in entire Central Delhi, which is an emergency provision to be used at the time of apprehension of violence or law and order problems.

He objected to the ASG's comment "professional protestors" and said the government cannot ask people to go to Ramlila Maidan or Narela in west Delhi to protest, which is their fundamental right.

"The government in its affidavit justifies continuous imposition of prohibitory orders in entire Central Delhi, which is a huge area. There are various Supreme Court verdicts which recognises people's right to protest as a fundamental right. The protests are always near the place where government is seated," Bhushan said.

Mehta intervened and said he did not mean that all protestors are "professional protestors" but some of them are certainly are.

He said it is understandable of the government imposing prohibitory orders if there is a specific intelligence input or apprehension of protests by a group turning violent and creating serious breach of peace and harmony.

"We have no problem with the government imposing section 144 of CrPC, if there is specific intelligence of violence. The government has virtually declared the entire central Delhi as a prohibited area for holding any public meeting, dharna or peaceful protest by people who want their voices to be heard," Bhushan said.

Mehta, sarcastically, commented that it was high time that the apex court should "elevate the fundamental right to protest to right to livelihood."