Jantar Mantar should never have been designated as protest site, Delhi Police tells SC

The Delhi Police told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the area that was the Jantar Mantar protest site in Delhi is a “public road”, Bar and Bench reported.

It should never have been designated as a venue for protests, said Delhi Commissioner of Police Anurag Kumar in response to a petition challenging the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site.

In an affidavit, Kumar said that the October 11 order to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites was taken due to the venue’s limited capacity to accommodate large crowds.

Kumar had issued the order based on recommendations from a committee constituted by the Union home ministry.

The police designated three alternative venues for protests: Ramlila Ground in central Delhi, Burari Ground in northern Delhi and CBD Ground in eastern Delhi’s Shahdara area.

The order was issued against the backdrop of protests in the national capital by the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign, the Opposition parties and student groups to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protests had also been held in June and July at Jantar Mantar against alleged exam irregularities.

On Tuesday, Kumar said Jantar Mantar’s proximity to government institutions and foreign embassies was another reason behind the decision to denotify the site.

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