Supreme Court Directs Normal Metro Services and No Illegal Detentions During Delhi Protests

Court Directs Normal Services

Metro and train services in Delhi must return to normal, and authorities cannot carry out illegal detentions. The Supreme Court issued these directions during a special Sunday hearing following protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard petitions that raised concerns about mass detentions, movement curbs, internet suspension, and violations of a previous October 9 order on transport restrictions.

Directives Issued

Senior counsels told the bench that metro operations were halted, major railway stations stayed shut, and people faced undue harassment and illegal detention outside areas covered by Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The court outlined specific rules: metro and rail facilities must operate normally unless public order issues arise under Article 19(2), people must have free movement subject to traffic rules, and barricades must be reviewed immediately. The court also ordered that peaceful, unarmed protesters can only be detained through the proper procedure established by law. Furthermore, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta must ensure that lawyers, journalists, and other professionals can work without obstruction. On Friday, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had already asked authorities to reconsider station closures and regulate services instead of stopping them entirely.

Context

Supreme Court intervention during public demonstrations often balances individual rights with public order and safety needs. Legal safeguards like Article 19 protect peaceful assembly, while local authorities use administrative tools like prohibitory orders to manage large crowds in the capital.