Delhi Police has removed Jantar Mantar from the list of authorised protest venues and designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari ground and the CBD ground in Shahdara for demonstrations, shifting organised protests away from one of the capital’s most prominent political gathering points.
The decision was issued under an order by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and follows recommendations by a committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry. It comes as opposition parties and organisations, including the Cockroach Janta Party, sought permission to hold demonstrations at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Jantar Mantar’s central location has historically allowed demonstrators to gather close to Parliament and key government institutions. The alternative locations are considerably farther from the political centre. Ramlila Maidan is approximately 6 km from Parliament by road, while the CBD ground in Shahdara is around 14 km away. Burari ground is roughly 23 km from the Parliament complex.
The relocation changes the practical relationship between protest venues and the institutions that demonstrators seek to reach. Gatherings in central Delhi have traditionally been more accessible to political leaders, policymakers and national media, while also having a greater potential to affect traffic around major commercial and administrative areas. The new venues may require organisers to mobilise larger numbers to create a similar level of visibility.
The designated grounds offer substantially more space than Jantar Mantar. The central Delhi venue can accommodate approximately 3,000 people, compared with estimated capacities of 50,000 at Ramlila Maidan, 15,000 at the CBD ground and nearly 80,000 at Burari ground. The larger capacities could allow bigger gatherings, but they place the demonstrations farther from Parliament and the central government’s main administrative institutions.
Jantar Mantar has hosted several major public campaigns, including Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement in 2011 and protests by Tamil Nadu farmers in 2017. Its association with sustained political demonstrations developed over decades, making the venue a recognised site for campaigns seeking national attention.
The police decision also follows complaints about noise and unhygienic conditions around Jantar Mantar. The National Green Tribunal examined concerns relating to the area in 2017. The change therefore brings together two competing administrative concerns: managing security, traffic, noise and sanitation in central Delhi, while retaining a visible and accessible space for peaceful demonstrations.
Under the new arrangement, demonstrations will be permitted at Ramlila Maidan, Burari ground and the CBD ground in Shahdara. The police order does not provide for Jantar Mantar to remain on the authorised list, making the three designated grounds the locations available for future demonstrations under the arrangement described in the order.
