“You can’t use a sledgehammer to kill a fly,” the Supreme Court said on Friday as it questioned the government over unprecedented curbs in the Capital ahead of the protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday. The court told the Centre that there cannot be a complete prohibition on Metro and other train services.
“Young people, elderly all travel. The court made these observations while hearing a petition against closures of metro stations and cancellation of trains by CPM general secretary MA Baby. “All trains are cancelled, Metro stations are closed. You cannot move anywhere. What is happening to my country? “Law enforcement authorities are certainly entitled to implement regulatory measures; there is no doubt about that. If you wish to curb uncontrolled movement, you are free to do so.
Read | Delhi Braces For CJP Protest: Metro Curbs, Trains Cancelled, 23,000 Cops While it backed the authorities’ right to implement security measures, the court drew a line at public convenience.
Expressing concerns for commuters, the court told the Centre that everything cannot be shut as people travel from all parts of the city and asked it to reconsider the restrictions on metro and trains. Commuters have a right to basic facilities,” the court told the Centre’s lawyer, asking for the number of closed Metro station to be brought down. “There is a disctinction between restriction and complete closure,” the court noted. This is a peaceful protest,” Senior advocate and MP Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, told the court. However, this does not mean you can bring everything to a halt and leave people without any means of transport,” the top court said.
