SC ON RIGHT TO PROTEST

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the right to peaceful protest against the law but also cleared that public ways and public spaces cannot be occupied and that too indefinitely.

• The Constitution guarantees the right to protest and express dissent, but with an obligation towards certain duties.
  

  • Article 19 confers upon citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and right to assemble peacefully without arms under Article 19(1)(b).

  • These rights, in cohesion, enable every citizen to assemble peacefully and protest against action or inaction of the State.

Following are the major highlights of the event:

>>Supreme Court bench which gave this ruling included three judges:

Justice Kishan Kaul,

Justice Aniruddha Bose

and Justice Krishna Murari

>> Supreme Court of India ruled that the Authorities should not permit the protests involving blocking of roads and public spaces and expressions of dissent should be organized at designated places only. By this ruling, SC upheld the right of the protestors as well as the rights of public.

>> Shaheen Bagh Protests started in December 2019 after the CAA 2019 was passed in parliament.

>> Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 seeks to amend the definition of illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian communities, who have lived in India without documentation.