West Bengal, Oct. 10 -- Amidst the ongoing Cockroach Janata Party-led citizen protests at Jantar Mantar against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar that saw the Indian capital being turned into a fortress and the request by the Congress Party for a meeting with the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court (SC) made a significant intervention that should have bearing on how the government deals with constitutionally valid protests and dissent.

On the CJP protest enforcement track, the Court was assertive - holding prima facie contempt by the government and ordering de-barricading and restoration of movement in the city. A contempt notice to the Union Home Secretary, the Delhi Police and the Delhi Metro is the strongest rebuke short of c...