Shaheen Bagh: Bhim Army Chief tells SC that Delhi and UP authorities are deliberately blocking other connecting roads

Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Azad along with two others has moved the Supreme Court seeking to intervene in the case concerning clearance of anti-CAA protest site at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi. (Amit Sahni v. Union of India)

Azad, in his application has sought the Court's permission to be heard on the issue. He has alleged that the authorities have deliberately blocked various roads connecting Delhi with Noida to inconvenience the citizens.

Road blockage at Shaheen Bagh is "only an excuse", the applicants say in Application and adds that while the protests are peaceful, it is the administration that has caused inconvenience to the citizens.

Various protesters agitating against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act have been staging a sit in protest at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, which has led to closure of the Kalindi Kunj road connecting Delhi and Noida.

Alleging that the UP authorities as well as Delhi authorities have barricaded various other connecting roads, the applicants have sought leave from the Court to place all the related facts on record.

When the road bloackage matter was taken up for hearing earlier this week, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the concerned authorities and at the same time had asked if a public road can be blocked for an indefinite period of time for staging protests.

Two petitions have been filed for the clearance of Kalindi Kunj Road, which is in proximity to the site of the protests. The first petition has been filed by lawyer and activist, Amit Sahni.

Sahni has prayed for certain specific directions for the removal of the blockage at the protest site. Sahni also seeks for the situation to be monitored or supervised by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a retired judge of the Delhi High Court in order "to circumvent any violence".

The second petition has been filed by BJP leader Nand Kishore Garg. He has sought the removal of protesters from the site on Kalindi Kunj Road.

The Apex Court is scheduled to hear the matter next on February 17.

Read the Application here.