Supreme Court Sets Rare Sunday Hearing on Delhi Transit Shutdown Contempt Plea

Special Hearing

The Supreme Court has scheduled a special Sunday hearing on October 11, 2026, for a contempt petition against the complete shutdown of public transport, rail, and Metro services in Delhi. These transport halts were put in place to block protesters who planned to gather in the capital and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana will hear the case, with the sitting listed in the Supreme Court Cause List on the evening of October 10.

The Allegations

Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi filed the petition on October 10 morning, arguing that the transit shutdown violated the Supreme Court's October 9 order that banned blanket transit bans causing hardship to daily commuters. The petitioner stated that officials ignored the court's prior directions and failed to issue transparent traffic advisories, which severely disrupted public life and stranded essential travellers across the National Capital Territory. The petition seeks contempt proceedings against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan IAS, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar IPS, and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Chairperson D. Thara IAS for willful non-compliance.

Context

This dispute highlights the ongoing tension between maintaining public security during large protests and protecting the basic movement rights of everyday citizens. The Supreme Court previously directed authorities to use proportionate regulation instead of outright transport prohibitions to prevent civilian hardship, setting strict compliance reporting timelines.