The Delhi High Court on Thursday agreed to consider a petition seeking to prevent the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from holding a protest at Connaught Place on Friday. However, the court declined to grant an urgent hearing to two journalists seeking protection from arrest in a case registered on the complaint of Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat.
Acting Chief Justice Nitin Sambre directed that the petition concerning the proposed protest be taken up at 2.30 pm, after the Supreme Court hears matters relating to the anti-SIR demonstrations. The two journalists’ petitions, meanwhile, were directed to be listed on Friday.
Plea Raises Concerns Over Proposed Connaught Place Protest
Senior advocate Sacchin Puri mentioned the petition seeking immediate intervention against the CJP demonstration. He argued that the proposed gathering should be stopped, citing the possibility of disruption in Connaught Place during the Dussehra weekend.
The protest was announced on Wednesday by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who urged people to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place to convey the message that waving the national flag does not constitute a crime.
The announcement followed the preventive arrest of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The two were detained after allegedly breaching security arrangements and entering the protest venue at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday morning, where they managed to raise the Tricolour.
During the mentioning, Acting Chief Justice Sambre referred to the Supreme Court proceedings concerning the anti-SIR protests and asked the counsel to return at 2.30 pm after the apex court had heard the matter. He indicated that the High Court would consider the petition thereafter.
Journalists Seek Protection From Arrest in SC/ST Act Case
In separate proceedings, counsel representing two journalists sought an urgent hearing of criminal writ petitions arising from a single FIR lodged following a complaint by ACP Vivek Bhagat.
The dispute relates to an October 3 protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, during which three women journalists accused Bhagat of sexual harassment and manhandling.
Bhagat subsequently accused one of the journalists of caste-based discrimination, leading to proceedings under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
While requesting immediate listing, the journalists’ counsel submitted that both petitions arose from the same FIR and that the complainant was a Delhi Police ACP. The counsel also pointed out that the police officer’s complaint followed allegations of sexual harassment made by a journalist.
The court was informed that the petitioners had a strong apprehension of arrest and were therefore seeking urgent protection.
Acting Chief Justice Sambre, however, declined to take up the petitions on Thursday and directed that they be listed for hearing on Friday.
