The Delhi High Court asked the Centre why it was not considering shutting down Jantar Mantar as a site for protests. Disposing of the plea, Justice Amit Mahajan remarked that the city should not be put to ransom unnecessarily due to such demonstrations.
Justice Mahajan made the remarks while hearing a petition submitted by All India Dalit Christian Rights Protection Committee (AIDCRPC) asking Delhi Police to decide on a plea seeking permission to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Sanjoy Ghose representing the petitioner, told the court that the Police has neither rejected nor allowed the request.
“We are saying maximum 75 people will come. They [Delhi Police] are sitting on our application since July. They have not rejected it,” Ghose submitted.
Delhi HC asks why Centre can’t shut down the protest site
On the other hand, the high court asked ASG Chetan Sharma about why the Centre can’t consider shutting down the protest site. “According to me, why don’t you shut this down? It shouldn’t be inside Delhi,” Justice Mahajan said.
In response, the Additional Solicitor General said that this is exactly what the Supreme Court order states and that it is hearing the matter about whether “Jantar Mantar can at all be a designated protest site”. “According to me, it shouldn’t be,” Justice Mahajan replied.
“When 75 becomes 75,000 we don’t know,” says ASG
“When this 75 (number of people) becomes 75 thousand we don’t know,” ASG added, noting that the Delhi Police will decide on the application and announce its decision by Saturday, August 8. In response, the judge remarked, “According to me these things (protests) should not happen in the city, but it is ultimately the government’s call…..Why should the city be put to ransom unnecessarily?”
What did the petition state?
According to Live Law, the petition sought permission to hold a 3-hour stationary protest at Jantar Mantar from 10 AM to 1 PM, or to allot an alternative suitable location or time slot within Delhi. The petitioner submitted that it had submitted an application seeking permission on July 9, 2026.
The plea stated that despite repeated follow-ups, the Delhi Police neither communicated through writing nor provided any reasons for allegedly denying approval. It further mentioned that on August 4, the authorities orally informed the organisation that approval would not be given, without an official order or suggesting another site for protest.
The petition argued that the proposed protest intends to draw attention to the pending demand for extending SC status to Dalit Christians via an amendment to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950. It notes that the demonstration would comprise fewer than 100 participants and also comply with all terms and conditions under the Delhi Police Standing Order governing protests.
