Chhattisgarh: Raipur civic body passes resolution to impose Rs 500 ‘protest fee’

The municipal corporation in Raipur, Chhattisgarh has passed a resolution introducing a new fee structure requiring citizens to pay Rs 500 to hold protests in the city, NDTV reported on Friday.

Under the new policy, anyone setting up a stage or pandal in a public space will be charged Rs 5 per square foot.

Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led civic body.

Mayor Meena Choubey said the fees are meant to cover expenses for cleaning, maintenance and crowd management during demonstrations, NDTV reported.

“The state government has clearly ordered that specific rules be established for such activities,” NDTV quoted her as saying. “Under this, a fee is charged along with permission. If there is a protest or procession, the route is known in advance, and cleaning arrangements are made after the event. The fee has been imposed as per the government’s directives.”

Activists have criticised the new policy, saying it was designed to discourage people from raising their voices on public issues and amounted to a “tax on dissent”, The Wire reported.

लोकतंत्र में, प्रदर्शन,जुलूस तो सहज अभिव्यक्ति है लेकिन छत्तीसगढ़ में ऐसा प्रदर्शन 500 रूपये चुकाकर होगा...रायपुर की मेयर को सुनिए बता रही हैं शासन की मंशा के हिसाब से फैसला किया है टाइप्स:) pic.twitter.com/WtVwMpYukA— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) October 31, 2025

The decision came as the city’s...

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