‘These are young students...’ SC rejects plea for free hand to Delhi Police against protesters

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has rejected a plea seeking directions to give the Delhi Police a free hand to deal with protesters, observing that the future of young demonstrators and the concerns of their families must be taken into account, even as police denied permission for a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on Saturday and sought the closure of 57 metro stations in the national capital.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said many of the protesters were young students who should not be unnecessarily entangled in prolonged legal proceedings.

“These are young students and protesters before us. We have to see their parents, we have to see they have a long life. [They should not be] entangled with court hearings etc.,” the CJI said.

The court, however, clarified that the protection granted under its earlier orders did not extend to alleged hardened criminals or those accused of serious offences.

The observations came against the backdrop of heightened restrictions ahead of the CJP's planned protest on October 10 against Kumar, who has faced allegations of voter-list tampering under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and of bypassing his two colleagues to alter Form 6, a key document for voter registration.

Police deny permission for CJP protest

Delhi Police has denied permission for the CJP and some student organisations to hold the protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, citing the late submission of the application and alleged rule violations during an earlier demonstration.

Police received the application on October 7, just three days before the proposed protest. Under the rules, applications must be submitted at least 10 days in advance, Joint Commissioner of Police, New Delhi range, Nupur Prasad said on Friday.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which empowers authorities to issue prohibitory orders to prevent potential disturbances, has been imposed in the New Delhi district, she said.

Delhi Police seeks closure of 57 metro stations

Separately, Delhi Police has asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to shut 57 metro stations from 9 pm on Friday until Saturday, citing the possibility of "unruly mob movement towards sensitive locations".

In a letter on Thursday, Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport Range) Rajneesh Gupta said the frequency of metro trains passing through the stations could also be reduced on October 10, depending on the situation.

The proposed restrictions are linked to the CJP's planned protest against Kumar at Jantar Mantar.

The 57 stations include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, INA, Hauz Khas, Azadpur, Jamia Millia Islamia, Shaheen Bagh, Welcome and Rohini West.