Story perspectives

Supreme Court Orders Delhi Police Response on Jantar Mantar De-notification

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 4:21 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court asked Centre and Delhi Police to answer a petition challenging Jantar Mantar’s de-notification.
Delhi Police issued a standing order on October 11 de-notifying Jantar Mantar as a protest site.
The order named Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as new protest venues.
Petitioners say the order is arbitrary and lacks SOPs for the newly designated venues.

History

Historical Context

During India’s 1975-1977 Emergency, the Supreme Court’s 1976 ADM Jabalpur decision upheld the government’s blanket suspension of habeas corpus and civil rights. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s administration ordered police to seal public squares, including Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, while the Delhi Police reported reallocating 3 venues. Today’s petition challenging the October 11 de-notification mirrors that historic clash, as activists again contest Delhi Police’s arbitrary venue redesign without clear SOPs. The precedent warns that unchecked authority over protest spaces can erode democratic safeguards, prompting courts to scrutinize future police orders.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court asked Centre and Delhi Police to answer a petition challenging Jantar Mantar’s de-notification.
Delhi Police issued a standing order on October 11 de-notifying Jantar Mantar as a protest site.
The order named Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as new protest venues.
Petitioners say the order is arbitrary and lacks SOPs for the newly designated venues.

1 / 2