Delhi High Court Declines to Halt CJP’s Connaught Place Protest Tomorrow, Police to Regulate Gathering

Delhi HC Allows CJP Protest at Connaught Place on October 16, Police to Regulate Gathering

The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to prohibit the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, from holding a protest at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday, October 16. The court took note of the Delhi Police’s assurance that it would take “all possible measures under the law” to regulate and control the gathering.

However, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announced on Thursday evening that Central Park would remain closed to the general public on October 16 and 17 due to “administrative reasons”. It remained unclear whether the closure would also prevent CJP protesters from entering the park.

The developments come days after Delhi Police detained hundreds of people who attempted to reach the Jantar Mantar road near Connaught Place for the CJP’s October 10 protest against alleged electoral fraud. The Congress-led INDIA bloc has also been organising demonstrations over the issue, with the two protest campaigns appearing to converge against the BJP-led central government.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has largely remained separate from INDIA bloc activities, has announced its participation in the CJP protest. Dipke has urged demonstrators to carry the national flag.

Street Vendor Moves High Court Over Protest

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma was hearing a petition filed by a licensed street vendor who argued that the proposed demonstration could disrupt the livelihoods and rights of traders. The petitioner sought directions for the police to regulate the gathering in accordance with the law laid down by the Supreme Court.

Representing the vendor, the lawyer argued that traders and street vendors could suffer significant losses if central Delhi faced another weekend of restrictions during the festive season.

The lawyer questioned the choice of Central Park as a protest venue, arguing that the demonstration could disrupt business activities during the Dussehra weekend. The counsel also claimed that restrictions and closures had already begun.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the authorities, informed the court that measures had already been initiated to regulate the protest.

Meanwhile, authorities in Mumbai granted permission for a parallel demonstration at Azad Maidan.

Dipke Accuses Authorities of Cracking Down on Protesters

Speaking at a press conference in Delhi on Thursday, Dipke alleged that protesters had been forcibly removed from streets across the national capital over the past two weeks. He also claimed that Opposition leaders who joined the demonstrations had been detained.

Dipke accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of protecting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid allegations of electoral irregularities.

He further referred to CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were jailed after allegedly entering the now-denotified Jantar Mantar protest site earlier this week. The two face trespass charges.

“For the past 10-15 days, students’ organisations and the youth of Delhi have been out on the streets, being dragged away,” Dipke said, adding that Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan, had also been detained.

He questioned the rationale behind the action, alleging that the crackdown was intended to protect Gyanesh Kumar.

Journalist Alleges Assault During Coverage

At the same press conference, AISA activist Neha Bora alleged that journalists covering the protests had been assaulted, dragged away and detained for hours despite carrying valid press identification cards.

She also claimed that cameras belonging to journalists had been snatched during the police action.

Supreme Court Issues Notice on SIR Petitions

Separately, the Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Election Commission of India, the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners on petitions filed by Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders challenging decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The hearing also touched upon the INDIA bloc’s October 12 march from Barakhamba Road towards the Supreme Court premises.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked, “Nobody can browbeat the judiciary.”

The Supreme Court also issued notices to Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and others on a separate petition challenging the march. It directed that CCTV footage from the court premises during the demonstration be preserved.