The Supreme Court on Friday said that it would invoke its constitutional tort jurisdiction to award compensation to Delhi traders if they are disproportionately affected by the protests by the CJP on Friday,
The warning comes after the Delhi Kirana Committee and Delhi Iron and Hardware Merchant Association petitioned, expressing concerns over the call for protest at the Central Park, which they said will l obstruct trade worth Rs 200 crores a day.
Advocate Jai Anant Dehadra had flagged a notification issued by the municipal council on Thursday night shutting down the entire park amid the protests =. he said that it would prevent traders from conducting business in the area,
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stated that if the restriction imposed by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation is found to be disproportionate, then the Court will act as per the principles evolved for compensation.
The CJI meanwhile also said that competing claims of protesters, traders and law enforcement agencies had to be considered together. "Someone wants to protest, someone wants to sell moongfali, someone wants law and order; all are related," Justice Bagchi said.
The New Delhi Traders Association on Thursday appealed to all political parties and protest groups to avoid holding demonstrations in Connaught Place, citing disruption to business and the livelihoods of workers in the area.
Businesses were forced to be shut amid the protests against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi.
Connaught Place is a major shopping hub in the city centre on the way to Jantar Mantar. The CJP had announced its latest Tiranga march at the market spot after the state de-listed Jantar Mantar as a protest site. In an order dated October 11, Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi were named as new venues for protests.
"Dear all political parties and protesters, we respect your right to protest and raise your voice, but CP is not your stage; it's our workplace," the traders' association said.
A poster it shared on X said: "You protest for a better tomorrow, don't kill our today."
"They have a right to protest. We have a right to livelihood. Why don't they go and protest at the approved protest sites," the traders' body said.
The traders' body underlined that "Connaught Place is a market area, not a protest site".
"Please let us earn our livelihood peacefully. Festive season has started; don't disturb the market area of CP, don't disrupt public services. It causes inconvenience to the public at large and results in loss of business and government revenue," the traders' body added.
