UN flags CEC protest mass detentions, says curbs must meet ‘necessity and proportionality’ tests

The United Nations Human Rights Office on Saturday expressed concern over the mass detention of protesters in Delhi during demonstrations demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, saying restrictions on peaceful protests “must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality”.

The UN body called for the immediate and unconditional release of those arbitrarily detained.

India rejected the concerns, describing them as “misplaced” and “an unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of India”.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly.

It said that it was “concerned by reports of mass detentions of demonstrators, protest leaders, members of civil society organisations, lawyers and journalists, before and during today’s large-scale demonstrations in Delhi”.

UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan urged the authorities to engage in “meaningful dialogue” to address the concerns raised by protesters.

In response, India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva said the right to peaceful assembly was guaranteed by the Constitution and safeguarded by the country’s institutions, independent judiciary and free media.

“As in every democracy, Indian citizens exercise this right subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order,” it said. “The authorities, for their part, act in accordance with the law, and our courts remain available to...

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