Supreme Court agrees to hear plea flagging disruption of essential services during protests

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will hear a plea flagging disruption of essential services during protests/ strikes.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed that the plea be tagged with another case concerning venues for protests, rallies and gatherings.

"When protests are underway, essential services are disrupted. We do not know who is a protester and who is not. Ingress and egress are completely disturbed," the counsel for the petitioner said.

"There is already a case pending before us concerning venues for protests, rallies and similar gatherings. Let this petition be tagged with that matter. But tell us, how can we issue a direction of this nature? We will hear the matter," CJI Kant said.

A petition is already pending before the top court over the use of Delhi's Jantar Mantar as a site for protests and gatherings.

That plea states that Jantar Mantar is no longer a suitable venue for public protests due to safety and logistical concerns.

The plea was filed 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.

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

When that plea was heard on August 3, the Court had asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to take instructions on the issue.