Delhi HC to hear on Tuesday plea against ‘closure’ of Jantar Mantar as protest site

The Delhi High Court will hear on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) two petitions concerning the closure of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site in the national capital and the alleged assault of demonstrators by outsiders during protests held over the weekend.

The matter relating to the protest site was mentioned before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma on Monday morning (October 12). The lawyer urged the court to take up the plea urgently, arguing that peaceful demonstrations were being curtailed in the absence of an alternative venue designated by the authorities.

‘SC equally on it’

“The Supreme Court is equally seized of the matter. Not only that, but the Supreme Court has called on the Union to file their affidavits also. Once the Supreme Court is seized of it, we have to see — to what extent we can look at it again. That’s why let us have it tomorrow,” the court said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police announced during the day that Jantar Mantar as a designated protest side as been de-notified and in its place three new spots — Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground in north Delhi, and CBD Ground in east Delhi — were designated as venues for organising protests or demonstrations.

NSUI seeks probe

The court also agreed to hear on Tuesday a separate public interest litigation petition filed by National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) president Vinod Jakhar, seeking an independent and time-bound investigation into the alleged assaults on protesters on October 10.

The petition alleged that videos showed “anti-social elements” dressed in civilian clothes manhandling and beating peaceful demonstrators during the protests. It argued that failure to investigate the incidents could have a chilling effect on fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly and movement.

The plea sought directions to authorities to preserve and provide investigators with CCTV footage recorded between noon and 6 p.m. on October 10 from multiple locations, including Connaught Place’s Inner and Outer Circles, Indira Chowk, the stretch outside Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, Sansad Marg, Janpath and Jantar Mantar Road. It also sought footage from Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk and Barakhamba Road metro stations.

Hundreds of people took to the streets on October 10 and 11 to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.