Supreme Court Requests Opening of Shambhu Border for Emergency Vehicles
- Supreme Court asks Punjab and Haryana to hold a meeting for the partial opening of Shambhu border.
- The border has been occupied by protesting farmers since February 13.
- Decision aims to prevent highways from being used as parking spaces.
Chandigarh: The Supreme Court has directed the Punjab and Haryana authorities to convene a meeting within a week to discuss the partial reopening of the Shambhu border on the Delhi-Amritsar national highway, where farmers have been protesting since February 13. A bench led by Justice Surya Kant emphasized that highways should not serve as parking spaces and called for at least one lane to be opened for essential services, including ambulances and commuters. During the proceedings, Punjab's Advocate General Gurminder Singh highlighted the need for a six-lane highway to accommodate traffic flow. The court's intervention comes in response to a petition from the Haryana government, which challenged a July 10 order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court mandating the removal of barricades at the Shambhu border. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested that the Directors General of Police from both states could collaborate to find a solution. The Supreme Court praised the efforts of both states and indicated it would issue a detailed order regarding the composition and mandate of a proposed committee to engage with the protesting farmers. The next hearing is scheduled for August 22. Additionally, the court rejected requests to stay a high court order for a judicial probe into the death of a farmer, allegedly caused by police gunfire, asserting that the committee's findings would ultimately be subject to the high court's discretion.