Supreme Court Seeks Centre Response on Jantar Mantar De-notification

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Union government and Delhi Police on petitions challenging the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue and alleging police excesses during recent demonstrations. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant directed all law enforcement agencies to preserve CCTV footage and digital evidence related to the protests.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court that the decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar was based on a Ministry of Home Affairs committee report, not on the Supreme Court's oral observations on October 9. This directly contradicts Delhi Police's earlier submission to the Delhi High Court, which had linked the move to the Court's directions.

“All law enforcement agencies are directed to preserve the CCTV footage or any other digital material collected by them.”

The bench declined to pass an urgent interim order restoring the site but sought a detailed response from Delhi Police on the de-notification process. The Court also urged lawyers to stop filing new petitions, noting that 46 matters are already pending, and asked both sides to appoint nodal counsel to consolidate overlapping issues.

Jantar Mantar has served as Delhi's designated protest site since 1993, after demonstrations were banned at the Boat Club lawns near India Gate. Petitioners argue that alternative venues proposed by authorities are less accessible and increase costs, potentially infringing on the right to peaceful assembly.