Delhi Police names three replacement protest sites

Delhi Police has designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as replacement protest sites after removing Jantar Mantar from its list of designated venues, the force told the Delhi High Court on October 13. Police said the decision followed a Supreme Court order calling for suitable alternatives with basic amenities for peaceful and lawful demonstrations. The police submission came during a hearing of a plea by Uday Bhanu Chib, who challenged the denial of permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar. Police argued that the removal of the site made his plea infructuous. The High Court nevertheless issued notice on three other requests in the petition, including challenges to restrictions on peaceful assemblies and a requirement for 10 days’ advance notice. Chib’s plea seeks to prevent police from mechanically or disproportionately prohibiting assemblies without assessing each case individually or considering less restrictive measures. It also argues that the advance-notice condition should not automatically bar applications submitted on shorter notice. The court’s notice allows those issues to proceed; the supplied reports do not establish a ruling on their merits.