Jantar Mantar has been removed as a designated protest site in Delhi, with the Delhi Police identifying Burari Ground, Ramlila Ground and CBD Ground as alternative venues following observations by the Supreme Court on facilities for peaceful demonstrations.
The police made the submission before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday while opposing a plea by Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib, who had challenged the denial of permission to protest at Jantar Mantar before its denotification. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the government, told Justice Amit Mahajan that the petition’s original cause no longer survived because the site had been formally removed from the list of designated protest locations.
The Delhi Police said it modified its standing order on October 12. The earlier order had laid down guidelines for protests at Jantar Mantar. The revised position states that Jantar Mantar now stands denotified and identifies three other locations for designated protests: Burari Ground, Ramlila Ground and CBD Ground.
The change follows the Supreme Court’s October 9 order in a case concerning the closure of metro and other services as a preventive measure ahead of a protest call for October 10. During the hearing, the court recorded that suitable alternative sites capable of providing basic infrastructure for peaceful and lawful protests should be identified and designated.
“During the course of hearing, it was suggested… that it is high time basic amenities were provided to those engaged in peaceful and lawful protest,” the Supreme Court observed, according to the submission made before the High Court. The court further recorded that the competent authority should consider the suggestion and take an appropriate decision.
Sharma told the High Court that the police had acted on that observation. “As on today, for good or bad, we have denotified Jantar Mantar pursuant to SC orders,” he said. He also argued that the plea had become infructuous because the disputed site was no longer designated for protests.
Chib’s counsel, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, opposed that position. He argued that the petition remained relevant and said it would be amended. The plea also challenges the broader practice of denying permission to protest at designated sites, describing such denial as disproportionate unless restrictions are imposed narrowly and on reasonable grounds.
Justice Mahajan recorded that the issue remaining before the court was “academic” in nature. The bench nevertheless issued notice to the Delhi Police and sought its response. The matter will next be heard on November 17.
The police’s notification changes the administrative map of designated protest spaces in the capital, but the High Court proceedings will examine whether the underlying restrictions on access and permission are legally sustainable. The next formal step is the Delhi Police’s response before the court on November 17.
