New Delhi, 07 August (H.S.):

The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre why it is not considering shutting down the Jantar Mantar area as a designated site for protests. A bench headed by Justice Amit Mahajan observed that the city should not be unnecessarily held hostage due to demonstrations taking place in the heart of the national capital.

The court made these remarks while hearing a petition filed by the All India Dalit Christian Rights Protection Committee. The plea sought directions to the Delhi Police to decide on its application seeking permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar.

During the hearing, senior advocate Sanjay Ghosh, appearing for the petitioner, said that the police had neither rejected nor approved the request. He submitted that the organisers had proposed that no more than 75 people would participate, but the Delhi Police had not taken any decision on the application since July. He added that the request had not been rejected either.

During the proceedings, the court asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, representing the government, why Jantar Mantar was not being closed as a protest venue. Justice Mahajan said, “In my view, such things should not happen in the city, but the decision has to be taken by the government. Why should the city be unnecessarily held hostage?”

In response, Sharma said that the Supreme Court had also passed a similar order in this regard.

The Supreme Court is also considering a petition on whether Jantar Mantar can be designated as a permanent location for protests. Justice Mahajan remarked that, in his opinion, such an arrangement should not be allowed.

The petitioner’s counsel Ghosh then asked whether the Centre’s stand was that no protests could be held in Delhi. He referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Shaheen Bagh case, which recognised the right to peaceful protest.

Justice Mahajan responded that the right to peaceful protest exists, but added that the city should not be brought to a standstill because of such demonstrations.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar