India’s Supreme Court on Sunday directed authorities to remove barricades around the court unless they were “absolutely warranted” and withdraw restrictions on large gatherings imposed amid protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
A special bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the directions while hearing a contempt petition challenging the closure of Delhi Metro stations in connection with the protests, reports NDTV.
The bench also ordered authorities to withdraw restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which prohibits large gatherings.
“We have been informed that a notice under Section 163 has been imposed in and around the Supreme Court. We direct the authorities to take down the restriction so that there is no apprehension of access to justice with regard to ingress and egress to the Supreme Court or any other court,” the bench said.
The court emphasised that normal public movement should be restored, subject to necessary regulation in situations involving public order.
The directions came in response to a contempt petition filed by lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi. The petition referred to the Supreme Court’s 9 October order in a separate case challenging the closure of 57 metro stations and the cancellation of trains to Delhi ahead of a planned CJP protest.
While acknowledging the right to protest, the bench said demonstrations must comply with the law.
“You have a right to protest, absolutely no quarrel on that but the process in which you protest has to be within the Police Act,” the court said.
Justice Bagchi told the petitioner that the right to protest could not be placed above the Police Act.
The Supreme Court subsequently issued notices to the concerned authorities, including the Delhi Police, the Union Home Secretary and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), seeking responses regarding the detentions and the circumstances surrounding them.
