Jantar Mantar De-Notified As Protest Site: Delhi Police Order Challenged In SC Over Shift To Ramlila, Burari & CBD Grounds
An application filed in the Supreme Court in a pending matter on the Delhi protests contended that the Court had earlier recognised Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and found Ramlila Maidan unsuitable, and questioned whether the new venues, some allegedly near the city's landfills, could host public gatherings
An application before the Supreme Court has challenged the Delhi Police Commissioner's standing order of October 11, 2026, which de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest site and designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as the new venues for demonstrations
The Delhi Police's decision to strip Jantar Mantar of its status as a designated protest site has been challenged before the Supreme Court. 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.
Senior Advocate Mukta Gupta, a former judge of the Delhi High Court, is expected to appear for the applicant.
By the standing order of October 11, the Commissioner of Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest venue. In its place, the order designated three locations: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi. The order states that a detailed and revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for protests at the three venues will be issued separately.
The order came amid protests in the capital against the Election Commission of India and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, and police action against those protests.
The application relies on an earlier ruling of the Supreme Court. It points out that the Court had previously recognised Jantar Mantar as a designated site for protests and had rejected Ramlila Maidan as an unsuitable alternative.
On that basis, the application as per reports, questions the rationale behind the restrictions now imposed by the Delhi Police and the choice of the alternative locations. The application also raises concerns about the three venues themselves. It alleges that some of them are situated near Delhi's landfill sites, and questions whether they are suitable for hosting public gatherings.
Furthermore, the application raises concerns over the availability and suitability of designated protest venues in the national capital following the de-notification of Jantar Mantar.