Supreme Court seeks Delhi’s response on alternative protest site to Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar may again face a court-led review of how Delhi accommodates public protest without blocking access for people who live and work nearby.

The Supreme Court last week agreed to examine a plea seeking an alternative site for demonstrations and asked the Delhi government and police for their stand. The issue has been on the table before: in 2011, the government told the Delhi High Court it was trying to identify another suitable location, but said doing so would take time and require consensus.

That earlier case was brought by the Dhawandeep Residents Welfare Association, representing people living on Jantar Mantar Road. Residents complained of obstruction to movement, persistent sloganeering, temporary shelters and poor sanitation during long-running protests. The High Court issued general cleanliness directions and said protesters’ right to express themselves had to be balanced with the rights of others.

In 2018, the Supreme Court restored Jantar Mantar and Boat Club as legitimate protest venues after striking down a previous ban. It held that peaceful demonstration is a fundamental right and directed the Centre to frame guidelines for permissions.