Delhi High Court refuses to restrain CJP protest at Connaught Place on October 16

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to restrain the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, from holding a protest at Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16. However, it recorded the police's assurance that all possible steps would be taken to regulate the protest and control the protesters' activities.

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma was hearing a petition filed by a Connaught Place vendor seeking directions to the police to regulate the proposed protest in accordance with the law laid down by the Supreme Court.

The petitioner's senior counsel argued that traders and street vendors could be forced out on to the streets if they lost another weekend of business because of protest-related closures in central Delhi during the festive season.

Despite the petitioner's request for a specific order restraining the CJP from holding the protest, the bench declined to issue one.

“Don't insist. We have passed the order,” the court told the counsel.

The court recorded the submission of Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, who said steps had already been taken to regulate the CJP's activities and assured the bench that the petitioner's concerns would be addressed.

“The petitioner apprehends that the conduct of respondent no. 6 (CJP) is likely to disrupt business activity in Connaught Place... When confronted, the ASG assures that the apprehension of the petitioner shall be taken care of as the respondents have already taken steps in the matter to control and regulate the activity of respondent no. 6 and if so required, all possible steps in accordance with law shall be taken,” the order stated.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on November 3.

Dipke calls for protest with national flags

The court proceedings come a day after Dipke called on “patriots” to gather at Central Park on October 16 with the national flag. He alleged that CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka had been jailed for unfurling the Tricolour.

The call came on Wednesday, the day Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail. They were arrested for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which has been denotified as a designated protest site.

Vendor cites business losses from protests

Senior advocate Sachhin Puri, appearing for Anil Kumar Gupta, a licensed street vendor selling readymade garments at Palika Bazar, argued that Central Park in Connaught Place was not a designated protest site and that demonstrations there could adversely affect businesses in the area.

The petition, filed as a public interest litigation (PIL), claimed that vendors had suffered financial losses because restrictions and barricades linked to protests had prevented customers from reaching Connaught Place and Palika Bazar.

It cited an agitation on July 20, 2026, which allegedly spilled beyond the designated protest area around Jantar Mantar.

“On or about 20.07.2026, a large agitation spilled beyond the designated area. The roads around Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street were barricaded and came to a standstill. Customers stopped coming to Connaught Place and Palika Bazar, and the petitioner could not vend, which caused loss on a daily basis,” the petition stated.

The court noted that the authorities had already denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and questioned why the petitioner believed the police would not take appropriate action over the proposed demonstration.

The ASG responded that the police would “perform its duty”.

Earlier on Thursday, while seeking an urgent hearing, the petitioner's counsel had argued that the proposed protest threatened to disrupt business during the Dussehra weekend.

“This is the Dussehra weekend. This protest has to be stopped,” the counsel submitted.

Delhi sees protests over Election Commission

Central Delhi has witnessed large demonstrations by Opposition parties, student organisations and civil society groups since June-July over several issues, including the functioning of the Election Commission.

The petition also referred to Supreme Court directions in the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and Shaheen Bagh protest cases, which addressed restrictions on blocking traffic, office entrances and arterial roads during demonstrations.

PTI