Supreme Court denies urgent hearing on petition to stop NDMC's closure of Central Park for protest

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking to block the New Delhi Municipal Council’s order to close Central Park for a planned Cockroach Janta Party march. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said they hoped reason would guide all parties and noted that small shop owners rely on the venue for their daily earnings. The judges pointed out that the protest issue, a proposal to sell roasted peanuts (‘mungfali’), and public order concerns were all linked. They added that the court could step in under its constitutional powers if the shutdown caused measurable business loss. During the hearing, counsel highlighted that the NDMC had issued the shutdown directive late on Thursday night, October 15, effectively barring any trade in the park. Justice Bagchi reminded that the court could act if the measures proved disproportionate, citing its authority under public and compensation law. The bench indicated the petition might be scheduled for further hearing on October 26 or 27. Cockroach Janta Party leader Abhijeet Dipke urged supporters to assemble with the national flag at the park, claiming his colleagues Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained for five days in Tihar jail after allegedly breaching peace bonds and entering Jantar Mantar, which has been removed from the list of approved protest sites.## Context Central Park in Connaught Place is a frequent spot for rallies and small‑scale vendors. The NDMC routinely regulates such gatherings to balance civic order with commercial activity, and courts often weigh protest rights against potential disruptions to local businesses.