Mandatory Permission Required for Protests at Jantar Mantar: Delhi Police
Delhi Police mandates prior permission for all demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and prohibits protests in the Central Vista area.
The Delhi Police has issued a clear directive stating that prior permission from the competent authority is now mandatory for organizing any meeting, demonstration, sit-in, or protest at Jantar Mantar. This move follows the Supreme Court's orders and specific standing orders issued by the Delhi Police to regulate public gatherings in the national capital.
Strict Guidelines for Demonstrations
Under the new regulations, organizers must submit their applications for permission to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi District. To ensure proper coordination, these applications must be filed at least 10 days prior to the proposed event.
The police have also outlined specific zones where public demonstrations are strictly prohibited. The Central Vista area is off-limits for protests, which includes:
- India Gate
- C-Hexagon
- Man Singh Road
- Janpath
- Rajpath
- Adjoining lawns
Designated Venues Based on Crowd Size
To manage public order and prevent chaos, the Delhi Police Standing Order of 2022 has designated specific venues based on the expected number of participants:
- Jantar Mantar: For gatherings of up to 1,000 participants.
- Ramlila Maidan: For gatherings ranging from 1,000 to 50,000 participants.
- Burari: For large-scale gatherings exceeding 50,000 participants.
The authorities have warned that any violation of these directions may result in legal action in accordance with the law.
Political Tension Rises Amid New Rules
The announcement comes amidst heightened political friction in the capital. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge recently asserted that opposition parties would continue their struggle despite facing legal challenges. This statement follows an incident where leaders were allegedly stopped while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The tension escalated after the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other INDIA bloc members. The FIR was filed in connection with an alleged unauthorized entry into the Akashvani Bhavan premises during a protest against the Election Commission.
Sharing a message of defiance on X (formerly Twitter), Kharge stated, “No matter how many cases you file, No matter how much you try to scare us, We are not the ones to get scared, We will keep laughing and keep moving forward. We will continue the struggle.”
The recent surge in agitation follows a meeting convened by Kharge to discuss alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, marking a period of intense scrutiny and high security presence around the protest hubs of Delhi.