The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an alternative venue for protests in Delhi, with the petitioner arguing that Jantar Mantar is no longer suitable for demonstrations due to access problems, inconvenience to residents and disruption of essential services. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notices to the Centre and other authorities on the plea filed by Satish Chand Kaushik.

The court also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek instructions from the concerned authorities regarding the issues raised in the petition. The PIL contends that repeated protests at Jantar Mantar have created difficulties for people living in the surrounding areas. The petitioner argued that demonstrations at the site affect public movement and can interfere with the supply of essential goods and medical services. During the hearing, the Chief Justice noted that the petition raised concerns regarding access and movement around the protest site.

“It has been stated in the plea that Jantar Mantar is not a proper site anymore for such protests due to ingress and egress issues. Supply of medical essentials etc. I think this is important,” the CJI observed. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the current arrangement at Jantar Mantar requires reconsideration and suggested that authorities should identify a location where the right to protest can be exercised without causing inconvenience to residents and disrupting daily activities. The counsel also referred to a proposed political march towards the Prime Minister’s residence and said that authorities should prevent a repeat of incidents similar to the July 20 protest-related situation.

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However, the Supreme Court did not comment on the proposed event and said that authorities would take appropriate action if required. Jantar Mantar has traditionally been one of Delhi’s designated areas for public demonstrations due to its central location and proximity to government offices. Over the years, the site has hosted protests by political parties, social groups, employees’ organisations and activists on various issues. However, concerns have frequently been raised over traffic restrictions, crowd management and the impact of prolonged demonstrations on nearby residents and businesses.

The latest petition seeks a balance between protecting the constitutional right to peaceful protest and ensuring that public convenience is not affected. The Supreme Court’s decision to examine the plea does not amount to any immediate change in the rules governing protests at Jantar Mantar. The matter will now be considered after responses are received from the Centre and relevant authorities. The court has directed that the matter be listed separately. Further proceedings will determine whether authorities need to consider creating or identifying another designated protest venue in the national capital.

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