Supreme Court Seeks Replies on Traders’ Anti-CEC Protest Plea

The Supreme Court on November 3 sought responses to traders’ pleas for an end to anti-CEC protests in Delhi, saying a protest site cannot be occupied indefinitely. The hearing remains ongoing, and the court has not ruled on whether the demonstrations must stop or how they should be regulated. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, heard traders’ claims alongside petitions concerning police action and the demonstrations. The court said the traders’ organisations must formally add the protest organisers as parties before it can determine their plea. It also sought responses from the Centre, Delhi authorities and other respondents. The traders’ plea, including one filed by Kirana Committee Delhi, alleges that demonstrations at Ramlila Maidan have disrupted business during the festive season. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing traders, told the bench that 50 lakh people live near the protest site, shops were closed and footfall in Connaught Place had virtually disappeared. Those statements were made in court on behalf of the traders and were not independent measurements. The Chamber of Trade and Industry separately estimated...