New Delhi, 07 September (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police to decide by September 14 whether permission should be granted for a protest at Jantar Mantar against reservation and the University Grants Commission (UGC) rules. The order was passed by a bench headed by Justice Amit Mahajan.

The Kshatriya Karni Sena intends to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on September 20. The court directed the Kshatriya Karni Sena to submit its application to the police. The police will decide on the application by September 14 and inform the organisation of its decision. The court also clarified that the police may impose any conditions it deems appropriate.

Earlier, the Karni Sena had sought permission to hold the protest on September 6, but the police had refused, citing preparations for the BRICS Summit.

On September 3, the High Court had asked the petitioner to consider changing the date of the protest. The court had questioned what was particularly significant about September 6 and said that if the police were not agreeable to that date, the organisation could choose another date. The court had further indicated that if the date were changed, it could grant permission for the protest without hearing the Delhi Police.

At that time, the counsel appearing for the Karni Sena said that the organisation had already changed the date once and that the proposed date was its second choice. The Karni Sena stated that the event was a march that would culminate at Jantar Mantar. The court then said it would consider the matter after hearing the Delhi Police’s position.

The petition was filed by Karni Sena chief Raj Shekhawat. The organisation had sought permission to hold a protest against the UGC rules. In a letter addressed to the Delhi Police on August 27, the Karni Sena had stated that it would hold a peaceful demonstration. On August 28, the Delhi Police rejected its application, citing preparations for the BRICS Summit. The Karni Sena subsequently challenged the police order before the High Court.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar