New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned the Delhi Police over its decision to deny permission to the Kshatriya Karni Sena to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, asking how there could be a blanket ban on demonstrations at the designated protest site.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Karni Sena president Raj Shekhawat challenging the police decision to withdraw permission for a proposed protest scheduled for September 20. The demonstration is against reservation policies and the recently notified University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.
The petitioner told the court that permission had initially been granted for the protest at Jantar Mantar but was subsequently withdrawn. The police cited concerns over the sensitivity of the area and apprehension that the gathering could exceed the permitted number of participants. During the hearing, the Delhi High Court questioned the rationale behind imposing what it described as a blanket restriction on protests. The court also asked whether the demonstration could instead be permitted at another location, with the police indicating that an alternative venue could be considered.
The police had earlier raised concerns about the likely scale of the gathering and its potential impact on the area. Authorities also referred to the high level of social-media engagement surrounding the proposed demonstration and the possibility of the gathering becoming larger than anticipated. The protest was originally planned for September 6 but was later shifted to September 20 in view of arrangements surrounding the BRICS Summit in the national capital. The petitioner has maintained that the proposed demonstration would not interfere with the summit-related security arrangements.
The petitioner has also offered to comply with reasonable conditions, including an assurance that no procession would move from Jantar Mantar towards Bharat Mandapam or any route connected with the summit's security arrangements. The court's intervention came a day after it had declined to urgently list the plea challenging the police's refusal to grant permission. The matter was subsequently taken up, with the court examining the basis for the restrictions imposed on the proposed protest. The court has not ordered that the protest must be held at Jantar Mantar. During Thursday's proceedings, the police said it would consider whether the demonstration could be accommodated at another venue, following which the matter was adjourned.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.