New Delhi: Delhi Police has refused permission for a proposed October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, saying the organisers’ communication was submitted at short notice and that the gathering could again create serious law-and-order problems.
In a two-page letter dated October 9 to Cockroach Janta Party co-convener Sourav Das and joint secretary Balkrishna, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi District, rejected the proposed programme from 10 am until the end of the day. The letter responds to their communication dated October 7.
What the police letter says
Police described the October 7 communication as an intimation rather than a duly submitted application seeking permission. The letter says the existing guidelines require an application for a Jantar Mantar programme to be submitted at least 10 days before the intended date.
While acknowledging the fundamental right to protest, the letter says permission also depends on the rights of other citizens and nearby residents. It cites traffic disruption, public safety and property concerns arising from earlier and continuing protests.
The letter alleges that conditions attached to an earlier permission were breached, including by continuing a protest beyond the permitted time. Police said this had led to serious law-and-order problems and deterioration of public order. These are the grounds stated by police in the rejection letter.
It says the guidelines were framed in compliance with a Supreme Court order dated July 23, 2018, in W.P. (C) No. 115 of 2017 and connected Civil Appeals Nos. 862, 863 and 864 of 2018.
The refusal concerns permission for the protest. Separately, the Supreme Court’s October 9 transport order calls for regulated Metro and rail operations rather than an outright prohibition; it does not grant permission for this gathering.
Commuters can also read the October 10 Delhi traffic advisory before planning their journey.
The two-page police letter
