Supreme Court Orders Regulated Metro Services Amid CJP Protest Plans

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that Delhi Metro services must not be completely shut down on October 10, despite authorities planning to close 57 stations to prevent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters from reaching the capital. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ruled that an entire city cannot be shut down citing protests, as such measures cause undue hardship to ordinary citizens. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that authorities would reconsider the prohibition and allow metro and railway services to operate in a regulated manner. The court also directed the Centre to identify an alternative venue for holding protests in Delhi with necessary amenities.

However, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed 45 stations from 9 pm on Friday until 6 pm on Saturday, and over a hundred trains were cancelled. Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi filed a contempt plea on Sunday against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and DMRC Chairperson D. Thara for allegedly violating the court's order. The plea cited reports of lawyers being harassed and detained, and internet services being suspended in a 4-kilometre radius. The Supreme Court began hearing the contempt plea on Sunday before a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana.

“An entire city cannot be shut down citing protests and such drastic measures will cause great hardships to ordinary citizens.”