Supreme Court seeks Centre, Delhi's stand on plea claiming Jantar Mantar is no longer fit for protests

The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Centre as well as the Delhi government and the Delhi Police Commissioner to a plea contending that Delhi's Jantar Mantar is no longer a suitable venue for public protests due to safety and logistical concerns.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana directed the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to take instructions on the issue.

"It has been stated in the plea that Jantar Mantar is not a proper site anymore for such protests due to ingress, outgress issues. Supply of medical essentials etc. I think this is important... Please take instructions, Mr Solicitor. Issue notice and list this separately," observed CJI Kant.

During today's hearing, the petitioner's counsel said directions are required to ensure that clashes such as those that took place during recent protests, particularly amid the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), do not recur at Jantar Mantar.

He noted that AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has recently called for a similar demonstration.

"Mr Arvind Kejriwal called a town hall and decided to march to prime minister's residence. Another July 20 incident should be avoided," the lawyer said.

Taking note of the submission, CJI Kant responded,

"They (authorities) know how to handle it. If they cannot, come to us for mishandling. I am sure they will handle."

Jantar Mantar has for years been one of Delhi's principal venues for public demonstrations. It has hosted several protests ranging from Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement and the 2012 Nirbhaya protests to the 2023 wrestlers' agitation and the recent student demonstrations against national exam paper leaks.

The present plea comes in the backdrop of the recent student protests that began in June following a call by the online collective Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over repeated question paper leaks. The protests culminated in a "Sansad Chalo" march towards Parliament on July 20.

In the present petition before the Supreme Court, the petitioner has argued that Jantar Mantar is no longer suited to host large-scale demonstrations because of limited access and exit routes, which make crowd management difficult and can disrupt emergency medical and other essential services.

The petition has sought directions to designate an alternative venue for such protests.

[Read Live Coverage]