Tractor-trailers can't be used on highways, observes Punjab and Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has slammed farmers for camping at Shambhu border with hundreds of tractors, ahead of a planned protest march to the national capital. The court questioned the Punjab government for allowing the assembly of farmers in such large numbers, citing the Motor Vehicle Act’s prohibition on using tractor-trailers on highways.

A bench of acting Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji remarked, “According to the Motor Vehicle Act, you can’t use tractor-trolleys on the highway. You are travelling from Amritsar to Delhi on trolleys.”

The court also stated that while protestors have the right to protest, it is subject to reasonable restrictions, and questioned the use of farmers traveling in tractors and trolleys for protest.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation, which stated that the road blockade at the Shambhu border has been causing inconvenience to residents since February 13, and has been hindering the movement of ambulance, school buses, and pedestrians.

The bench’s remarks come as farmers groups escalate their protests and plan a march to the national capital over their demands. The court’s questioning of the Punjab government’s decision to allow the assembly of farmers with hundreds of tractors indicates the seriousness of the issue and highlights the potential impact of the protests on public safety and convenience.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s intervention in the matter brings a new dimension to the ongoing protests and raises important questions about the balance between the right to protest and ensuring public safety and convenience. The court’s emphasis on the Motor Vehicle Act’s provisions regarding the use of tractor-trailers on highways adds a legal perspective to the issue, and it remains to be seen how the authorities and farmers groups respond to the court’s remarks.