India, Oct. 12 -- Delhi Police on Monday de-notified Jantar Mantar in Lutyen's Delhi as a designated protest venue, naming Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in Shahdara - spread out across the city, as the new sites for demonstrations.

The move comes two days after the Supreme Court called for authorities to consider better-equipped alternatives, but it revives a constitutional question the court confronted in 2018: how can the State regulate protests without effectively shutting down a space for dissent?

Jantar Mantar was built as an astronomical observatory, but its adjoining road gradually acquired another role. It became a place where citizens could make their grievances visible to the political establishment. After demon...