Delhi Police's removal of Jantar Mantar from protest sites list challenged in Supreme Court
Lawyers Lakshya Saini and Tushar Gupta have petitioned the Supreme Court against the removal; the plea is likely to be heard on Thursday, October 15.
Delhi Police have removed Jantar Mantar from the list of places designated for protests. The decision has now been challenged in the Supreme Court. Lawyers Lakshya Saini and Tushar Gupta have filed a petition in the matter. The plea is likely to be heard on Thursday, October 15.
The petitioners say Jantar Mantar has been a key centre of protests in Delhi. They argue that if people are sent to an alternative site far from the city to protest, it may become difficult for them to raise their voice and register dissent. They have therefore expressed apprehension that the right to peaceful protest will remain only on paper.
Earlier, Delhi Police had informed the Delhi High Court that Jantar Mantar had been dropped from the list of places designated for protests. The police had also said that three alternative sites had been chosen for peaceful protests in line with the Supreme Court's directions. These are Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and the CBD Ground in East Delhi. The police claim that they were selected in accordance with the Supreme Court's directions.
The matter came up during the hearing of a petition by Uday Bhanu Chib, president of the Indian Youth Congress. Chib had challenged the decision, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, not to allow protests at Jantar Mantar. The issue of Jantar Mantar's removal from the list of protest sites was raised in the same hearing.
Appearing for Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma argued that Jantar Mantar no longer has the status of a protest site, and Chib's petition had therefore become infructuous. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the petitioner, said the remaining prayers in the petition also needed to be considered. After hearing both sides, Justice Amit Mahajan issued notice on three prayers in the petition.
A few days ago, the Supreme Court had directed the competent authorities to consider fixing suitable alternative sites for peaceful and lawful protests in the capital. The court had also stressed the need to provide basic amenities and necessary arrangements at these sites. All eyes are now on the stand the Supreme Court takes on the challenge to the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list.
