International Desk

India’s Supreme Court has directed authorities to remove barricades unless they are “absolutely warranted” and withdraw restrictions on large gatherings around the court amid protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

A special bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the directions on Sunday while hearing a contempt petition challenging the closure of Delhi Metro stations in connection with the protests.

The bench also directed authorities to withdraw the restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which prohibits large gatherings.

“We have been informed that a notice under Section 163 has been imposed in and around the Supreme Court. We direct the authorities to take down the restriction so that there is no apprehension of access to justice with regard to ingress and egress to the Supreme Court or any other court,” the bench said.

The court said the free movement of people should be restored to normal, subject to necessary regulation in situations involving public order.

The observations came on a contempt petition filed by lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi. The petition referred to the Supreme Court’s October 9 order in a separate case challenging the closure of 57 metro stations and the cancellation of trains to Delhi ahead of the planned CJP protest.

The bench said people have the right to protest but must exercise that right within the framework of the Police Act.

“You have a right to protest, absolutely no quarrel on that but the process in which you protest has to be within the Police Act,” the court said.

Justice Bagchi told the petitioner that the right to protest could not be considered above the Police Act.

The Supreme Court subsequently issued notices to the authorities, including the Delhi Police, the Union Home Secretary and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), seeking responses on the detentions and the circumstances surrounding them.

Source: NDTV