The Supreme Court of India on Monday called upon the central government, Delhi administration, and the Commissioner of Delhi Police to address concerns raised in a petition questioning the suitability of Jantar Mantar as a venue for public demonstrations. The petition cites safety and logistical challenges at the historic site. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, instructed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to provide inputs on the matter.
During the proceedings, CJI Kant remarked, “The plea suggests that Jantar Mantar is no longer fit for protests due to limited ingress and egress, as well as challenges in ensuring medical and other essential supplies. This issue warrants attention. Please gather instructions, Mr. Solicitor.” The court issued a notice and scheduled a separate hearing for the case.
The petitioner’s counsel emphasized the need for preventive measures to avoid incidents like those witnessed during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ rally organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The counsel highlighted recent calls for similar protests by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, suggesting potential risks. “Mr. Arvind Kejriwal has called for a town hall and a march to the Prime Minister’s residence. We must prevent another incident similar to July 20,” the lawyer argued.
In response, CJI Kant expressed confidence in the authorities’ ability to manage such situations, saying, “They are equipped to handle it. If mishandling occurs, approach us. But I trust they will manage effectively.”
Jantar Mantar has long been a central hub for public demonstrations in Delhi, hosting significant protests such as Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, the 2012 Nirbhaya protests, and more recent events like the 2023 wrestlers’ protest and student demonstrations against exam paper leaks.
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The current plea emerges in the wake of student protests initiated by the online collective Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in June, demanding the resignation of the then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recurrent question paper leaks. These protests reached a peak with the “Sansad Chalo” march towards the Parliament on July 20.
The petition argues that Jantar Mantar’s infrastructure is inadequate for large-scale demonstrations, highlighting restricted access and exit routes that complicate crowd management and potentially disrupt emergency services. The petitioner seeks a directive to designate an alternative location for such public demonstrations.
