Supreme Court Schedules Special Sunday Hearing on Delhi Protests, Detention of Opposition Leaders
The Supreme Court of India has scheduled a special Sunday hearing to examine petitions challenging the preventive detention of opposition leaders and protesters during demonstrations in Delhi. The proceedings follow a police crackdown on Saturday’s protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other political groups against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The petitions raise concerns over the detention of political leaders, lawyers and journalists, as well as restrictions imposed on public transport ahead of the demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the matters on a Sunday, when the court ordinarily remains closed, has brought renewed attention to the legal questions surrounding the police action.
Senior advocate and Trinamool Congress MP Menaka Guruswamy has filed a petition challenging the preventive detention of opposition leaders, including four former chief ministers. Her plea argues that preventive detention cannot be used to suppress the fundamental right to peaceful protest and questions the detention of political figures and demonstrators before they could reach the protest venue.
A separate petition filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi seeks contempt proceedings against senior government and police officials over alleged non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s October 9 order concerning metro and railway services in Delhi. The petition names Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chairperson D. Thara.
On October 9, the Supreme Court directed authorities to ensure that metro and train services connecting Delhi were not completely prohibited because of the planned protests. The court said services could be regulated for security reasons but should not be brought to a complete halt, emphasising that ordinary citizens should not face unnecessary hardship.
The contempt petition alleges that metro station closures and train cancellations continued despite those directions, disrupting commuters and restricting access to the national capital. These allegations are part of the pending legal proceedings and have yet to be conclusively determined by the court.
The protests were organised over allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition groups have raised concerns about voter exclusions, while election authorities and the ruling BJP have denied allegations of wrongdoing.
The special hearing is expected to address the legality of the preventive detentions and the allegations that authorities failed to comply with the court’s earlier directions on public transport. The proceedings place the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and personal liberty alongside the government’s responsibility to maintain public order.
The outcome of the hearing could determine the next legal steps concerning the detentions and the alleged violation of the court’s transport-related order. Any directions issued by the Supreme Court will be closely watched by opposition parties, civil liberties advocates and residents affected by the restrictions in Delhi.
