The Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing against the closure of Central Park for a proposed protest. The bench signalled possible intervention if disproportionate restrictions hurt traders and their families.
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Newdelhi,Oct 16, 2026 11:30 IST
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to urgently hear a plea challenging the New Delhi Municipal Council's order to close Central Park in Connaught Place for a proposed protest by the Cockroach Janta Party, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed hope that "better sense will prevail" and highlighted the hardship the closure could cause small shopkeepers and their families.
"We hope better sense will prevail on everyone. Small shopkeepers earn their livelihood during these days. We know the hardship and difficulty entire families will face," the bench said.
Justice Bagchi said the right to protest, the proposed sale of 'mungfali' and concerns over law and order were interconnected. "Someone wants to protest, someone wants to sell 'mungfali', someone wants law and order. All these are related," he said.
The court said it could use its constitutional powers if the situation led to business losses. "If there's loss of business, we will exercise our powers under Constitutional jurisdiction. Let's cross that bridge when it comes," Justice Bagchi said.
During the hearing, the lawyer said the NDMC had issued directions late on Thursday night to close Central Park, effectively preventing trade there. Justice Bagchi indicated that the court had sufficient powers to intervene, including under public and compensation law, if the measures were found to be disproportionate. The bench said the plea could be listed on October 26 or 27, according to PTI.
Cockroach Janta Party leader Abhijeet Dipke had called on "patriots" to gather with the national flag at Central Park in Delhi's Connaught Place on Friday. He alleged that party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka had been "jailed for unfurling the Tricolour".
The call was made on the day Das and Ranka were sent to five days' judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which has been denotified as a protest area. The Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing but indicated that it could intervene if the closure caused business losses or was found to be disproportionate.
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