The Supreme Court on Friday asked Delhi authorities to identify an alternative venue to Jantar Mantar for peaceful demonstrations, stressing the need for a larger space with adequate facilities for protesters. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana said citizens should be able to exercise their democratic rights without causing unnecessary disruption to public life. The court urged the Delhi Police commissioner and other competent authorities to consider designating a suitable location that balances the right to protest with public safety.

The bench said the proposed venue should provide essential amenities, including portable cabins, toilets, drinking water and medical facilities. It also emphasised that the site must be spacious enough to accommodate demonstrators while allowing emergency services to operate without obstruction. Observing that an alternative location was needed, the court urged authorities to take an appropriate decision at the earliest. It suggested that a better-equipped open space could improve conditions for protesters while reducing logistical difficulties associated with demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.

The observations came during a hearing on petitions challenging restrictions imposed on metro and railway services in Delhi ahead of protests scheduled for October 10. The demonstrations were planned against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The bench also asked the Centre and Delhi Police to reconsider the decision to completely suspend public transport services, emphasising that security arrangements should remain proportionate and should not unnecessarily deprive residents of essential services.

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During the proceedings, the bench questioned Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre and Delhi Police, about the possibility of identifying a more suitable protest location. “Why don’t you find an alternative space where you can also provide better facilities?” the court asked. The bench observed that designating another venue with appropriate infrastructure could help authorities manage demonstrations more effectively while protecting commuters and other members of the public. Mehta agreed to convey the court's observations to the appropriate authorities for consideration.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Mariam Alexander Baby, told the court that Ramlila Maidan had previously served as an alternative venue for demonstrations. However, he argued that the location was no longer being offered when permission to protest at Jantar Mantar was refused. The bench subsequently recorded the parties' agreement on the need to identify an alternative site for peaceful protests. The proceedings highlighted the challenge of balancing demonstrators' constitutional rights with public transport access, security requirements and the smooth functioning of the national capital.

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