Supreme Court Bars Complete Metro Halt Before Delhi Protest

The Supreme Court on October 9 directed authorities not to completely halt Delhi Metro and railway movement ahead of a planned protest in New Delhi, calling instead for regulated services and public advisories. The demonstration was scheduled for October 10 at Jantar Mantar, but Delhi Police had denied permission and its status remained unsettled in reports published the previous day. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said authorities could take security measures but should not impose a complete prohibition on Metro movement. It recorded Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s assurance that he would urge officials to permit regulated Metro and railway operations. The court also said decisions on services should be made public so commuters could plan their journeys. The directions followed petitions challenging restrictions proposed for the protest. They included closing entry and exit gates at 57 Metro stations and cancelling some trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations.