The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to restrain the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its founder Abhijeet Dipke from holding their proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday, but made it clear that the police would remain responsible for regulating the gathering and maintaining public order.
Police said the two leaders breached peace bonds signed after their preventive detention earlier this week and violated other restrictions. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma recorded the Delhi Police’s assurance that it had taken steps to regulate the CJP’s activities and would take further lawful measures, if required. The court, however, did not grant the party permission to demonstrate at Central Park or direct the police to allow an unauthorised assembly. The court’s decision leaves the authorities responsible for enforcing applicable restrictions while keeping the area accessible to the public. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma gave the assurance on behalf of the Delhi Police. Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody after they entered the Jantar Mantar area, which the Delhi Police no longer recognise as a designated protest venue.
