SC Defers Hearing on Pleas Over Delhi Protest Curbs to October 15

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday put off until Thursday, October 15, its hearing on a batch of petitions over the Delhi protests, including the closure of metro stations and disruption of train services before the October 10 agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The hearing was deferred because Justice V Mohana was unwell, even though he had come to court. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant informed lawyers of the judge’s condition at the outset. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked for an adjournment, saying health concerns should not be ignored, and senior advocates including Gopal Sankaranarayanan agreed.

A bench of the CJI and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Mohana was due to hear a contempt plea alleging that authorities defied the court’s direction not to halt metro and train services entirely ahead of the protest. The Centre’s deadline to respond to that plea ended Tuesday. Mehta said its affidavit was ready but he wished to add material to make it more comprehensive. The bench extended the time and directed that a copy be given to the petitioners’ counsel.

Sankaranarayanan also sought urgent listing of a separate contempt plea by a journalist alleging violation of the court’s October 11 order. The CJI said all the matters would be listed and asked that defects in the filings be fixed.

On October 11, the court had said people gathering peacefully should not be illegally detained and asked the Centre to keep Delhi Metro running normally and avoid disrupting internet services, subject to law-and-order needs. Delhi has seen repeated protests demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.