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The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to respond on the steps taken to regulate public processions and demonstration the capital city.

The order was passed by the single judge bench of Justice Rekha Palli while hearing a petition by Vasant Vihar Welfare Association against a large number of Afghan nationals protesting outside UNHCR office in Vasant Vihar area of Delhi seeking refugee status, causing inconvenience to the residents and creating a possibility of the spread of Covid 19.

The Court has issued notices to Home Ministry, Ministry of External Affairs, Delhi Government, Delhi Police, SDMC and Delhi Jal Board .

After hearing Advocate Hrishikesh Baruah appearing for the petitioner Association, the Court observed that the gathering was causing inconvenience to the people and directed the Delhi Government to apprise the Court on the steps being taken by the Government in pursuance of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on the right to protest.

The petition filed through Advocates Shahrukh Ejaz and Nilotpal Bansal has also sought direction to the Ministry of External Affairs to frame appropriate policy for ensuring that such nuisance to the local residents does not occur on account of foreign missions/diplomacies being in the vicinity of residential localities.

Standing Counsel for Central Government Ajay Digpaul however submitted that the situation was not normal due to the international issues and the same requires to be dealt with a humanitarian approach.

Standing Counsel for Delhi Government submitted that there were around 500 protestors at the site and sufficient force had been deployed to deal with the situation, however the Centre should take a stand to resolve the issue at the earliest.

The Court however expressing concern that “this could be super spreader”, said “What if this could be super spreader of COVID-19. What is this, there are no masks. You should ensure some protocol is there. Why are they not wearing mask. You are challenging people daily for not wearing masks in cars.”

 Case Title: Vasant Vihar Residents Welfare Association vs UOI