The Supreme Court has been moved against a Delhi Police directive prohibiting public demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, with a new petition contending that the replacement venues assigned across the capital—including sites near city landfills—are inappropriate for public gatherings.
The petition challenges the justification behind barring demonstrations at the central venue and questions both the adequacy and suitability of the spaces currently permitted for public assembly in the national capital.
Challenge To Police Directive
The dispute stems from an October 11 standing order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, which de-notified Jantar Mantar as an authorized protest venue. Under the order, all future demonstrations and protests were reassigned to three alternative locations: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and the CBD Ground in East Delhi.
In the directive, the Delhi Police noted that a comprehensive, revised Standard Operating Procedure governing public assemblies across the three designated grounds would be released separately.
Past Judicial Rulings Cited
Challenging the administration’s venue selection, the plea highlighted that the Supreme Court had previously affirmed Jantar Mantar as an authorized protest venue while ruling that Ramlila Maidan was unsuitable as an alternative site.
The petition further objected to the environmental suitability of the new locations, asserting that certain designated areas sit in proximity to Delhi’s landfills.
Former Delhi High Court judge Mukta Gupta is likely to head the petitioner’s legal team before the apex court.
