The Supreme Court today took strong exception to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana chief ministers’ “support” to the ongoing stir by Jats demanding quota in central government jobs and asked the two states and Rajasthan to ensure that the supply of water and other essential commodities to Delhi was not affected.
“We are constrained to pass the order having regard to the statements made by the highest functionaries of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh indicating support to the agitation,” a bench of judges Altamas Kabir and Dalveer Bhandari said.
The bench made the remarks after taking note of the reported statements of the chief ministers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Mayawati, respectively, indicating support to the agitation that has hit rail and road traffic in several parts of northern India.
Agitating Jats have threatened to cut off supply of essentials to Delhi if their demands for reservation in central jobs are not met. “We make it clear that while citizens have a right to protest, we also make it clear that resorting to such steps should not lead to disruption of supply of essential commodities in the interests of citizen,” the bench said.
In Chandigarh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Haryana government to immediately get the rail tracks and other blockades cleared to restore normal movement of trains.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi gave the order on a public interest suit filed by Chandigarh-based National Consumer Awareness Group Society.
The apex court bench asked the state governments to ensure free flow of water and other essential items like milk, dairy products and vegetables to the national capital. It also directed Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan governments to see to it that transportation of oil and petroleum products from the Mathura and Panipat oil refineries to Delhi should not be affected in any manner.
