The Supreme Court on 15 October sought a response from Union Government and Delhi Police on plea challenging de-notification of Jantar Mantar as designated protest site.
The court was hearing a matter regarding the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. The writ petition was filed challenging the Standing Order dated October 11, whereby has been de-notified as a designated protest site and three alternative venues have been notified.
The petition was filed by advocate Swaty Singh, arguing that the relocation of protests to distant and outlying areas may render the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression ineffective.
Responding to the plea, former judge and senior advocate Mukta Gupta argued that the site must be a place where protesters are “heard by the powers to be”. Justice made an oral observation saying “the word ‘heard’ must be understood from the perspective of technology also,” according to Indian Express report.
For over three decades, stood as the beating heart of protests in the national capital. It was known as a place where the angry, the aggrieved and the unheard gathered to make their voices count. But the move by authorities in Delhi put the iconic stage of dissent away from the capital’s and corridors of power.
The Court also issued a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and others on a petition filed by Opposition leaders led by Rahul Gandhi. The Court sought responses from the poll agency, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on the plea.
The Court also issued notice to Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and others on plea against march to Supreme Court over alleged SIR irregularities. The court expressed strong objections to the conduct of one of the 13 petitioners who challenged the manner in which the poll body is conducting the SIR of electoral rolls.
(With agency inputs
