The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre and other parties on a petition filed by traders’ organisations seeking restrictions on the ongoing protest against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) during the festive season. The Court observed that designated protest sites cannot remain occupied indefinitely and that different groups must have an opportunity to exercise their right to protest.
A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing a batch of petitions concerning the protest at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan and related issues.
The Bench emphasised that while everyone has the right to protest, the use of designated spaces must be regulated through specified time periods to ensure access for other groups, including farmers and journalists.
Traders Allege Business Losses Due to Protest
The Kirana Committee Delhi, one of the petitioners, alleged that the continuing demonstration had adversely affected commercial activities in areas surrounding Ramlila Maidan.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the traders, submitted that approximately 50 lakh people reside in areas near the protest site. He claimed that shops remained closed and that Connaught Place had virtually no visitors.
The traders’ organisations sought intervention to prevent the protest from continuing throughout the festive season, citing its impact on local businesses.
Court Directs Traders to Include Protest Organisers as Parties
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court asked the traders’ bodies to implead the organisations conducting the anti-CEC demonstration.
The Bench made it clear that the Court could not adjudicate the grievances raised by traders without hearing the protesting organisations.
It also stressed the need to balance the right to demonstrate with the availability of public protest spaces for other sections of society.
Other Petitions Raise Allegations of Police Action and Restrictions
Apart from the traders’ petition, the Bench was considering pleas raising allegations of mass detentions, police brutality, closure of Metro stations and internet shutdowns.
The proceedings also follow an October 15 order in which the Supreme Court sought responses from the Election Commission and other parties on a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 12 opposition leaders.
That petition raised allegations of large-scale deletion of voters’ names and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The hearing in the present batch of petitions was continuing at the time of reporting.
