New Delhi, 03 November (H.S.): The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre on a petition filed by traders' associations seeking restrictions on protests against the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi during the festive season.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that no group could occupy a public place indefinitely, emphasising that everyone has the right to protest but that such demonstrations should be allowed for a specified period.

“You cannot occupy a place all the time. Everyone has the right to protest. A fixed time and a specified duration should be provided,” the Bench observed.

The petition seeks a ban on the ongoing demonstrations against the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi during the festive season.

Several petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court in connection with the protests, including one by traders' associations. The pleas have raised concerns over issues such as large-scale detentions, alleged police brutality, the closure of metro stations and internet shutdowns.

During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the traders' associations, submitted that around five million people lived in the areas surrounding the protest site and that all shops in the vicinity had been shut. He further claimed that Connaught Place was deserted that day.

The Supreme Court observed that no court could adjudicate on these issues unless the traders' associations impleaded all the groups participating in the protests as parties to the proceedings.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar