Story perspectives

Supreme Court Orders Metro, Rail, Internet Open During Protests

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 10:35 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Chief Justice Surya Kant warned the Supreme Court must stay out of politics.
He told lawyers to protest only at designated sites to keep court operations running.
A bench ordered metro, rail and internet services to stay open during protests.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan alleged police detained lawyers, dragged senior counsel Shadan Farasat, and hit children with lathis.

History

Historical Context

During India’s 1975 Emergency, the Supreme Court upheld the government’s authority in the ADM Jabalpur case, sparking nationwide criticism. Justice H.R. Khanna’s lone dissent, joined by one of four judges, warned that curbing civil liberties would erode democratic foundations. Now Chief Justice Surya Kant urges the court to stay out of politics as lawyers Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Shadan Farasat face police detention and lathi-beatings during protests. The 1976 reaffirmation of the Basic Structure doctrine after the Emergency shows that renewed judicial assertiveness can restore checks on executive overreach.

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Story summary

Chief Justice Surya Kant warned the Supreme Court must stay out of politics.
He told lawyers to protest only at designated sites to keep court operations running.
A bench ordered metro, rail and internet services to stay open during protests.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan alleged police detained lawyers, dragged senior counsel Shadan Farasat, and hit children with lathis.

1 / 2