Supreme Court pulls up Centre over Metro and train shutdowns ahead of CJP protest at Jantar Mantar

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court ahead of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest scheduled for tomorrow, October 10, at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The petition challenges the decision to close Metro stations and cancel several trains. It was filed by CPI(M) general secretary and former Rajya Sabha member M. A. Baby, who had sought the court's immediate intervention.

The CJP has called the agitation on October 10 over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and what it calls the corrupt functioning of the Election Commission. The petition claims that the Railway Ministry had already decided to cancel all important trains headed to Delhi. According to the petition, heavy security arrangements have also been put in place on the roads leading into Delhi. The Supreme Court heard the challenge to this decision urgently today.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court rebuked the government. The matter concerns the agitation of the Cockroach Janata Party on Saturday, and the court said an excessively harsh stand had been taken. The court also said the decision would affect not only those taking part in the protest but also the general public of Delhi. It asked the authorities to reconsider the complete restriction on Metro stations and rail services, and also suggested that they rethink the question of permitting the CJP's protest.

The court said, "Some things have to be stopped. Take only as much action as is necessary to stop them. But that does not mean a hammer should be used to kill a fly." The court also set aside the order to close Metro stations. Under that order, 57 Metro stations were to be shut from 9 pm today in view of tomorrow's demonstration.

All mail and express trains arriving at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations were to be cancelled tomorrow by the railways. The railways have cancelled these trains from their originating stations itself.

North Western Railway has cancelled 13 trains headed to Delhi for two days. Railway stations in Jammu and Kashmir are crowded, with passengers waiting for their trains. Haryana has also tightened security in view of the CJP's planned protest at Jantar Mantar. Checkpoints have been set up at railway stations from Panipat to Delhi. Vehicles are being searched at the Tikri, Badarpur, Kapashera and Singhu borders before being allowed to proceed.