The Bombay High Court on Tuesday said that it would not permit illegal detentions while hearing a petition stating that Mumbai Police detained protesters and passers-by during demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday and Sunday, Live Law reported.
The petition alleged that around 600 persons were detained on Saturday and another 300 on Sunday.
Protesters were not allowed to assemble near Shivaji Park on Sunday and were detained at Dadar railway station, Scroll reported. Some persons were allegedly detained merely for walking in the area.
The petitioner also submitted that Mumbai Police picked up students who had participated in the youth protests in July from their homes, Bar and Bench reported.
It urged the court to declare the “indiscriminate” detention of peaceful protesters and pedestrians without “lawful individual justification” unconstitutional.
“We will take care of the issue, but obviously we will not permit this illegal detention,” Live Law quoted Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi as saying.
The court adjourned the hearing to Monday.
Protests against Kumar
Protests are being held in several parts of the country calling for Kumar to resign over concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission and its handling of the special intensive revision exercise.
Since the exercise began in June 2025, the SIR has faced questions about the manner and pace of its implementation, amid concerns that it could deny genuine electors their...