Delhi High Court to Hear Plea Against Ban on Protests at Jantar Mantar Today

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court will hear a petition today challenging the restrictions on protests at Jantar Mantar. The court had refused to take up the plea urgently on Monday, pointing out that the matter was already under consideration by the Supreme Court.

Jantar Mantar, a protest site in Delhi with a decades-long history of demonstrations, was removed from the list of designated protest venues recently. In its place, Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi have been designated as new protest sites. Demonstrations and agitations will be permitted at these locations, and specific guidelines and procedures for organising protests at the new venues will be issued.

The removal of Jantar Mantar, located close to Parliament and key government offices, from the official list of protest venues limits demonstrators’ ability to bring their demands directly to the attention of the government.

The decision comes amid intensified police action against protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.