The Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea seeking implementation of a standard operating procedure (SOP) to regulate protests, with the petitioner alleging that traders in the surrounding areas had suffered losses of around ₹2,000 crore due to ongoing protest activities.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma agreed to take up the matter later in the day after noting that related issues were also before the Supreme Court.
Appearing for the petitioner, counsel argued that protests should not be allowed to disrupt the functioning of businesses and that the SOP already put in place to regulate such activities should be implemented.
"Protests must not disrupt the work of traders; people can't treat their areas as if they have become completely unapproachable. We want the SOP to regulate how protests take place to be implemented" counsel submitted.
The petitioner claimed that traders had suffered losses of approximately ₹2,000 crore because of the ongoing protest activities.
" All we are saying is to implement what has already been put in place " counsel said, adding, "All we are asking for is basic implementation of our rights."
Delhi High Court Notes Related Proceedings Before Supreme Court
During the hearing, the High Court asked whether the matter was also before the Supreme Court.
Counsel for the petitioner confirmed that the issue was being considered by the apex court. The High Court indicated that it would hear the matter later in the day, by which time an order from the Supreme Court might be available to help it appreciate the contentions raised.
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing in the matter, also pointed out that the issue was directly before the Supreme Court.
"In more ways than one, this issue is before the SC directly. If one reads the prayers and the contentions, the same is precisely within the same broad parameters" he submitted.
The High Court agreed to hear the plea at the end of the board.
It may, however, be noted that the Supreme Court today deferred to Thursday (October 15, 2026) the hearing on pleas related to protests, closure of metro stations and disruptions in train services ahead of the October 10 agitations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to the unavailability of Justice V. Mohana on the bench.
Traders Seek Implementation Of SOP To Regulate Protests
The plea seeks implementation of an SOP intended to regulate protests, with the petitioner contending that demonstrations should not prevent traders from carrying on their business or make the affected areas inaccessible.
The petitioner's counsel emphasised that the plea was not seeking to prevent protests altogether but to ensure that the existing framework governing them was implemented.
The alleged loss of ₹2,000 crore was cited by the petitioner to underline the claimed economic impact of the ongoing protest activities.
Meanwhile, a petition has been moved before the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi Police's decision to strip Jantar Mantar of its status as a designated protest site.
The challenge is to a standing order issued on October 11, 2026 by Delhi Commissioner of Police Anurag Kumar, which de-notified the site and named Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as the venues for protests and demonstrations in the national capital.
The challenge has been brought through an application filed in a petition already pending before the Supreme Court, which concerns issues arising from the protests in Delhi and the Delhi Police's response to them.
Tags: