Resident welfare associations in Lutyens’ Delhi have sought intervention from the Supreme Court, the Union Home Minister and the Delhi Police Commissioner, alleging that repeated protests, barricading and road closures are disrupting daily life and restricting movement in central New Delhi.
The RWAs said demonstrations in and around the area have created situations in which residents feel effectively confined to their homes. They cited barricades, road blockades and loud disturbances as problems affecting people living near protest locations, according to a report by Jagran – New Delhi.
Residents said the disruption is particularly difficult for office-goers, elderly people and children. With routes blocked or diverted, commuters are forced to take longer alternative roads. The RWAs claimed that journeys that would normally take about 30 minutes can extend to two or three hours when demonstrations affect key routes.
The issue has also raised concerns about access to healthcare, schools and domestic services. Varun Seth, a resident and owner of a house near Jantar Mantar, said his home has an elderly person who needs medical attention but cannot be taken to a doctor easily. He also said doctors were unable to reach the house, children could not attend school and domestic workers were unable to come to the area.
Residents and representatives associated with the Jantar Mantar area said restrictions governing protests at the site include a direction that demonstrations should not continue after 5 pm. Advocate Rajiv Singh, a resident of the Dhawandeep Building near Jantar Mantar, and Saurabh Gandhi, identified as the general secretary of the YRD, referred to Supreme Court and High Court directions concerning demonstrations at the location. They said responsibility for maintaining a peaceful environment for residents rests with an officer of at least assistant commissioner of police rank.
The RWAs also referred to an earlier Supreme Court arrangement concerning protests at Jantar Mantar, under which alternative spaces were to be made available for demonstrations. They said protests have nevertheless continued to affect other roads and neighbourhoods, with some travellers reportedly missing trains because of the disruption.
The residents’ representations frame the issue as a balance between the constitutional right to protest and the rights of other citizens to peaceful residence and unobstructed movement. Their letters asked the authorities to regulate protest sites, protect access for local residents and ensure that demonstrations do not prevent essential movement in the area.
The RWAs have now requested intervention from the Supreme Court, the Union Home Ministry and the Delhi Police. The report does not specify any fresh court order or official response to the representations. Further action will depend on how the authorities respond to the requests and whether existing directions on protest timings and designated locations are enforced.
