New Delhi, 12 October (H.S.): The Delhi High Court on Monday granted the Delhi Police time until October 13 to respond to a petition filed by the Indian Youth Congress challenging the police decision to deny permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

During the hearing before a Bench of Justice Amit Mahajan, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Delhi Police, sought one day to obtain the necessary instructions from the police authorities. Accepting the request, the court listed the matter for further hearing on Tuesday, October 13.

The petition has been filed by Indian Youth Congress national president Uday Bhanu Chib, challenging an order issued by the Delhi Police on October 1 rejecting his application for permission to hold the protest.

According to the petition, the Youth Congress had sought permission on September 25 to organise a peaceful demonstration involving approximately 100 to 150 participants. In its application to the Delhi Police, the organisation had undertaken to comply with all applicable legal requirements concerning security, traffic management, discipline and the maintenance of public order.

The petition states that despite repeated follow-ups, the police communicated their decision to deny permission only on October 1, which was also the originally proposed date for the demonstration.

The petition argues that the police's authority to regulate public assemblies does not mean they can impose a blanket prohibition without conducting an individualised and reasonable assessment of the circumstances.

It further contends that the Delhi Police's decision violates the fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression and to assemble peacefully, guaranteed under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution of India.

The plea also maintains that the indiscriminate application of guidelines governing protests and public assemblies is arbitrary. The Youth Congress has challenged the police decision on these grounds before the Delhi High Court.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar