The Delhi Police has informed the Delhi High Court that Jantar Mantar has been denotified as a designated protest site following a Supreme Court order calling for alternative venues with better facilities for peaceful demonstrations.
The submission was made on Tuesday before a single-judge bench of Justice Amit Mahajan while hearing a petition filed by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Uday Bhanu Chib. The petition challenged the police’s refusal to grant permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Delhi Police told the court that the site was denotified following the Supreme Court’s October 9 order. The High Court subsequently issued notice on Chib’s request for reconsideration of the denial of permission and scheduled the next hearing for November 17.
Supreme Court Calls for Better-Equipped Protest Venues
On October 9, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mahona called for authorities to identify a larger, better-equipped location for peaceful demonstrations in the national capital.
The court observed that citizens should be able to exercise their democratic right to protest without compromising public safety, access to emergency services or the interests of other residents.
Following the order, Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar, ending its 33-year designation as a major protest venue. Authorities subsequently designated three alternative locations for demonstrations: Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground in north Delhi and CBD Ground in east Delhi.
The police order, titled Guidelines for Holding Protests or Demonstrations in Delhi, stated that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to examine suitable alternatives to Jantar Mantar. The new venues were designated based on the committee’s recommendations.
High Court to Hear Reconsideration Plea
During Tuesday’s proceedings, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Chib, urged the High Court to issue notice on the request for a fresh, reasoned and individualised assessment of the permission denial.
Regarding the challenge to the police’s October 1 decision refusing permission for the protest, Luthra sought time to amend the petition in light of the subsequent notification withdrawing Jantar Mantar’s designated status.
The law officer representing Delhi Police opposed the issuance of notice, arguing that the petition had become infructuous following the notification and that its prayers stemmed from the original denial of permission.
The High Court nevertheless issued notice on the reconsideration request and fixed November 17 for the next hearing.
The case comes amid changes to Delhi’s protest arrangements following the Supreme Court’s intervention, with the suitability and accessibility of the newly designated venues likely to remain central to discussions over the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly.
