Delhi Police blocks CJP’s Oct 10 Jantar Mantar protest over safety and procedural gaps

Delhi Police denied the Cockroach Janta Party’s request to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on Oct 10, citing short notice, past violations and public‑safety concerns. In a letter dated Oct 9 to co‑convener Saurav Das and joint secretary Balkrishna, the police said the group’s Oct 7 communication was only an intimation, not a formal application, and that guidelines require a request at least ten days before the event. The police added that granting permission must balance the right to protest with the rights of residents, commuters and other citizens, pointing to traffic congestion, crowd‑control and potential disruption of daily life. They referenced the July Jantar Mantar demonstrations, noting that permission for a one‑day march was exceeded to about a month, during which more than 200 police personnel were injured and 989 of 2,873 identified participants were alleged to have criminal records including murder, robbery and sexual assault. An FIR from the July 20 march claimed protesters assaulted officers, damaged property and tried to breach Parliament security. The police also alleged that women constables were molested in the previous week’s protests. Earlier, the CJP had been allowed a June 20 rally against alleged exam paper leaks and demanded the resignation of then‑education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, but the protest continued into June 21 and drew thousands, far beyond the permitted 1,000 limit. Police said Jantar Mantar can hold about 1,000 people at a time and that advance notice is needed for traffic diversions, emergency access and safe crowd movement. The denial was justified as necessary in the larger public interest, with officials urging peaceful expression within the prescribed process.

Context

Delhi’s protest rules stem from a 2018 Supreme Court order that requires advance applications and limits crowd size to protect public order. The police apply these rules to balance free speech with safety for nearby residents and commuters.