The Delhi High Court will hear a petition challenging the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from Delhi’s notified protest venues, after a lawyer argued that the move was suppressing peaceful demonstrations without providing a clearly established alternative location.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Vasudev Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma agreed on Monday to hear the matter on Tuesday. The petition was mentioned before the bench after the lawyer sought urgent consideration of the restrictions affecting demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
The court noted that the Supreme Court is also examining the issue and has sought an affidavit from the Centre. The High Court said this would require it to consider the extent to which it could examine the matter while the issue was before the apex court. It nevertheless agreed to list the petition for hearing on Tuesday.
The dispute follows a standing order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, under which Jantar Mantar has been removed from the list of notified venues for protests. Delhi Police has announced three new locations for demonstrations, although the report does not identify those locations.
The petition challenges the closure of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue on the ground that authorities had not fixed an adequate alternative location. The issue places the administration’s regulation of demonstrations against the practical requirement that public protests have accessible, officially recognised spaces in the national capital.
The High Court is also scheduled to hear a separate public interest litigation filed by Vinod Jakhar, president of the National Students’ Union of India. The petition alleges that “external criminal elements” entered a protest held on October 10 and assaulted ordinary demonstrators. It seeks a fair, independent and time-bound investigation into the incident.
Jakhar’s petition has asked the authorities to preserve and hand over CCTV footage covering the period from noon to 6 pm on October 10. The requested footage includes cameras from Connaught Place’s inner and outer circles, Parliament Street, Jantar Mantar Road and nearby metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk and Barakhamba Road.
The CCTV request covers locations that connect the protest site with surrounding public streets, commercial areas and transit points. The petition therefore places the alleged violence within a wider public-space and crowd-management setting rather than limiting the inquiry to the protest venue itself.
The hearing comes as both the venue restriction and the handling of the October 10 protest face judicial scrutiny. The immediate question before the High Court is how far it can consider the challenge while the Supreme Court is examining the broader issue. The court’s next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
