High Court in support of anti-CAA protestors

As lakhs of people feel oppressed for opposing the CAA, Bombay High court has brought some relief.

The court upholds the right of citizens to peacefully protest against the law.

Peaceful protestors "cannot be called traitors, only because they want to oppose one law, said the court.

The order was given on a petition challenging denial of police permission to an agitation against the CAA.

Aurangabad bench of Bombay HC said,"The submissions made show that there will be no question of disobedience of provisions of CAA by such agitation......Thus, this court is expected to consider the right of such persons to start agitation in a peaceful way.

"This court wants to express that such persons cannot be called as traitors, anti-nationals only because they want to oppose one law...... It will be an act of protest only against the government for the reason of CAA," the bench said.

The bench quashed and set aside two orders passed by the ADM of Beed district and the Majalgaon city police in Beed.

The police had cited the ADM's order as the basis for refusal of permission.

According to the bench,"India got freedom due to agitations which were non-violent..... We are fortunate that most of the people of this country still believe in non-violence"

"In the present matter also the petitioners want to agitate peacefully to show their protest," the bench said.

The ADM's order had cited the Beed SP's report apprehending the law-and-order situation.

Petitioner Iftekhar Zakee Shaikh had challenged police's refusal of permission for peaceful protests against CAA and NRC.

This order is significant as anti-CAA protestors across the country including Shaheen Bagh in Delhi are being targeted.

BJP leaders made 'traitor' and 'anti-national' remarks for these protestors during Delhi election campaign.