Delhi Police has denied permission for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and student organisations to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, citing late submission of the application, alleged non-compliance during an earlier demonstration and restrictions imposed in the New Delhi area under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
According to a report by Live Hindustan – NCR, the proposed demonstration was linked to demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and concerns raised by the organisers about alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. CJP has said it intends to proceed with the protest despite the denial of permission and has described the proposed demonstration as peaceful.
Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Nupur Prasad said an application had been received from CJP representative Saurav Das for the October 10 protest. The application was considered by the police, but officials found that the information had been submitted with insufficient notice. Under the stated guidelines, organisers are expected to inform the authorities 10 days before a protest is planned.
The police also referred to the organisers’ conduct during an earlier protest for which permission had been granted. The report quoted the police as saying that the organisers had not followed legal directions or complied with the time limits attached to that permission. The authority cited the alleged breach of legal rules and assurances, along with the prevailing law-and-order situation, as reasons for refusing permission for the new demonstration.
The proposed protest has also been affected by restrictions in the New Delhi district. Delhi Police said Section 163 of the BNSS was in force in the area to maintain public order and safety. The provision was cited as a preventive measure, and the police warned that violations would invite legal action. The authority also referred to the need to manage public safety, law and order and traffic arrangements around the protest location.
Jantar Mantar is a designated site for political demonstrations in the capital, but access to the venue remains subject to police permissions and operational conditions. The latest decision highlights the administrative role of the police in regulating the timing, scale and conduct of protests in a central urban district where demonstrations can affect traffic movement, security arrangements and access to surrounding government and commercial areas.
The proposed demonstration comes amid wider opposition criticism of the Election Commission over electoral rolls and voting rights. Members of the INDIA bloc, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have previously raised questions about voter lists and electoral processes. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas has also said that protests would continue until the Chief Election Commissioner resigns.
The report said security arrangements had been increased ahead of the proposed demonstration, with Delhi Police and central forces expected to be deployed. The immediate next step will depend on whether organisers proceed with the protest despite the denial of permission and how the authorities enforce the restrictions in force around Jantar Mantar.
