Supreme Court Seeks Responses on Jantar Mantar Protest Site

The Supreme Court on October 15 sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police to a petition challenging the removal of Jantar Mantar’s designated protest-site status, asking the authorities to explain the decision and how alternative venues were assessed. The petition, filed by advocate Swaty Singh, contests a Delhi Police standing order dated October 11. The order removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues and named Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternatives. The court issued notice on the challenge; it has not ruled on the merits. During the hearing, the bench questioned whether the authorities had relied on the Supreme Court’s October 9 order when denotifying the site. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told the court that the October 9 order was not the basis for the decision. He said a committee had been formed earlier to examine alternative venues and had prepared a detailed report. The basis for the police decision remains disputed in the accounts presented to the courts. Delhi Police had told the Delhi High Court that the denotification followed the Supreme Court’s October 9 order.