New Delhi, 15 October (H.S.): The Delhi Police on Thursday assured the Delhi High Court that it would take all possible measures to regulate the protest proposed by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16. A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudev Sambre also ordered that the CJP be impleaded as a party to the proceedings.

When the hearing commenced on Thursday afternoon, advocate Sachin Puri, appearing for petitioner Anil Gupta, submitted that the proposed demonstration would cause substantial losses to traders, particularly as the festive season had begun.

In response, the Delhi Police assured the court that it would take all possible steps to regulate the CJP protest. The court subsequently directed that the CJP be made a party to the petition.

Puri then requested the court to issue directions for action against anyone violating the law. The High Court rejected the request, observing that its order had already been dictated and the CJP had been impleaded. In view of these steps, the court said, there was no need for an additional direction of the kind sought.

Earlier on Thursday morning, senior advocate Sachin Puri had mentioned the matter before the bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudev Sambre, arguing that the proposed demonstration needed to be stopped. He contended that Connaught Place was not a designated venue for protests.

The Acting Chief Justice observed that the Supreme Court was scheduled to hear the matter that day and decided that the High Court would take it up in the afternoon. During the subsequent hearing, the Delhi Police gave the assurance regarding measures to regulate the demonstration.

Earlier, on October 13, the High Court had asked the Centre to state its position on petitions filed by traders, vendors and lawyers seeking regulation of protests in the national capital in accordance with the prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The petitions seek the enforcement of established procedures governing demonstrations in Delhi, amid concerns over their potential impact on commercial activity and public life.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar