The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Centre’s stand on two petitions seeking the enforcement of existing rules and Supreme Court directions to regulate protests in the national capital and prevent disruption to traffic, businesses and public access.
He sought interim directions to ensure that demonstrations take place at designated venues without disrupting the work of traders and professionals. In his petition, Saxena has sought the enforcement of two Supreme Court judgments, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan v. Union of India and Amit Sahni v. Commissioner of Police, along with Delhi Police Standing Order No. The plea also calls for a review of protest arrangements following the Delhi Police’s decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues and identify Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternative locations. The petitions seek the implementation of existing legal directions and clearer arrangements to balance the right to peaceful protest with the public’s access to roads, workplaces and essential services.
10/2018, which lays down rules for holding protests.
The judges said they did not wish to deal with an issue that was already before the apex court. Senior advocate Sacchin Puri, appearing for one of the petitioners, told the court that protests were affecting business activities.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma asked the authorities to take instructions after being informed that similar matters were pending before the Supreme Court. The High Court sought the authorities’ response to the pleas while taking note of the related proceedings pending before the Supreme Court.
