Sukhbir Badal seeks Defence Ministry’s intervention over road closures in Punjab Cantonments
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 3, 2026: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to intervene in the issue of road closures and movement restrictions in cantonment towns, including Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Amritsar.
In a social media post, Badal said that the sudden closure of long-standing public roads and access gates had caused severe hardship to thousands of civilian families living in and around cantonment areas.
He called for an urgent nationwide policy review, citing the constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21, along with provisions of the Cantonments Act, 2006, and the Cantonment Land Administration Rules, 1937.
Badal also referred to judicial rulings, including Dr Nitin G. Khot v. Station Commandant, Belgaum and Vikram Thakur v. Union of India, and said restrictions on public roads must be imposed strictly in accordance with the law. The Nitin G. Khot case dealt with the impact of road closures in a cantonment area on the public’s freedom of movement.
The SAD leader urged the Defence Minister to address the matter on priority and establish a fair, legally compliant framework that balances national security requirements with the constitutional rights and daily needs of civilian residents living in cantonment towns.