New Delhi, Oct 12: Delhi Police has de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated venue for protests and demonstrations, naming Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi as alternative sites, officials said.
The decision was conveyed through a standing order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on Sunday, based on the recommendations of a committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to examine alternative venues for public protests.
“Based on the Committee’s recommendations, Jantar Mantar as a protest venue has been de-notified. Three new venues viz Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, East Delhi have been designated as new venues for organizing protest/demonstrations,” the order stated.
Delhi Police said a detailed and revised standard operating procedure (SOP) governing protests at the three venues would be issued separately.
The order partially modifies an earlier standing order dated April 28, 2022.
The move comes amid protests against the Election Commission of India and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and a police crackdown on demonstrators in the national capital.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the decision, alleging that it targeted the right to dissent. “They have removed Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. Yes, it’s no longer a protest site as anyway it was turned into a war zone…. Ab poora desh Jantar Mantar banega!” Dipke posted on ‘X’.
In another post, he said, “Today, Modi denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. Tomorrow, he will denotify democracy itself.”
Dipke said that the issue was not merely the location of protests but the right of people to demonstrate against the government. Jantar Mantar in central Delhi has long served as a prominent venue for public demonstrations on political, social and civic issues.
The revised arrangement shifts designated protests to three locations across the capital, with the detailed rules for organising demonstrations at these sites yet to be announced.
Delhi HC agrees to hear plea against ‘closure’ of Jantar Mantar as protest site
The Delhi High Court agreed to hear on Tuesday a petition regarding the alleged closure of Jantar Mantar as a protest site in the capital.
A lawyer mentioned the matter before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma on Monday, stating that peaceful protests were being quelled as authorities had not earmarked an alternative site for them.
The court also agreed to hear on Tuesday another petition alleging that “outsiders” had entered the protest held over the weekend and harassed the protesters.
