Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Weighs Compensation for Traders Amid Delhi’s “Lehra Do Tiranga” Protest
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Court Signals Possible Compensation for Connaught Place Traders
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi warned it could invoke its constitutional tort jurisdiction to award compensation if restrictions around the Central Park gathering in Connaught Place unlawfully impede traders and daily-wage earners. The warning followed a petition by the Delhi Kirana Committee and the Delhi Iron and Hardware Merchant Association, represented by advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, alleging severe loss of business. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had ordered Central Park closed on October 16 for “administrative reasons,” prompting the traders’ claim of losses exceeding INR250 crore per day.
Background & Context: CJP’s “Lehra Do Tiranga” March and the SIR Roll Revision
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement founded by Abhijeet Dipke, has been organising daily demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which critics say removed more than 130 million names. Protests began on October 2 and intensified after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were placed in five-day judicial custody for entering Jantar Mantar on October 13. With Jantar Mantar denotified, the CJP called for a “Lehra Do Tiranga” march at Central Park on October 16.
Data & Statistics
- Traders’ claimed loss: more than INR250 crore per day (petition).
- Separate filing in the Delhi High Court cited a total loss of INR2,000 crore due to ongoing protests.
Official Statements & Responses
- CJI Surya Kant emphasized the “grave urgency” of the festive season (Karva Chauth, Dussehra, Diwali) and expressed hope that “better sense will prevail” for shopkeepers.
- Justice Bagchi noted the court’s power to grant relief under public-law and compensation principles if restrictions are deemed disproportionate.
- Delhi Police cited prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), allowing only a small group to wave the national flag at a suitable location.
- NDMC announced the closure of Central Park for two days, citing administrative reasons.
- Home Minister Amit Shah defended the Election Commission’s independence and accused opposition parties of spreading falsehoods about the voter-verification exercise.
Criticism & Opposition
BJP minister Dilip Ghosh labeled the protests “drama” that threatens “the pillars of democracy,” accusing opposition parties of disrupting normal life during the festive season and claiming the demonstrations would “fizzle out.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Security forces deployed over 6,000 Delhi Police personnel and 220 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces around Connaught Place. Barricades were erected at key intersections, and journalists reported detentions and police-protester confrontations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Traders’ loss estimates differ: INR250 crore per day versus a INR2,000 crore total loss cited in a separate petition.
- The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on compensation, and the legal status of the BNSS provisions remains under review.
What’s Next
- The Supreme Court has listed the traders’ plea for hearing on October 26.
- A separate hearing on the SIR-related petitions is set for October 27.
- The court will consider a challenge to Section 172 BNSS on November 19.
- Additional petitions concerning protest-related police actions are slated for November 3 and November 5.