New Delhi, October 9: The Supreme Court on Friday asked authorities to identify and designate suitable alternative sites equipped with basic amenities for peaceful protests in the national capital, while expressing concern over restrictions on Metro and railway services ahead of demonstrations planned by opposition parties and other organisations on Saturday.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana said authorities should consider providing infrastructure at designated locations to facilitate peaceful and lawful protests.
“During the course of hearing, it was suggested, and learned senior counsel and counsel for the parties were ad idem, that it is high time basic amenities were provided to those engaged in peaceful and lawful protest,” the Supreme Court said in its order.
“Suitable alternative sites capable of housing such infrastructure need to be identified and designated. Let the Competent Authority consider this suggestion and take an appropriate decision thereon,” it added.
The observations came as the court considered restrictions proposed on Metro and railway services in Delhi in view of the potential risk of protestors moving towards sensitive locations.
The Bench noted that communications issued by Delhi Police to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the zonal railways had directed the cessation or cancellation of certain services as a preventive measure.
The proposed restrictions included reduced Metro train frequency at 57 stations and the closure of their entry and exit gates from 9 p.m. on October 9, continuing on October 10 until the situation normalised.
Expressing concern over the measures, the court observed that the notifications appeared to be “overreaching” as they imposed a complete ban on essential public transportation.
It underlined the distinction between an outright prohibition and the regulation of Metro and other railway services, stressing that security measures should be proportionate to the situation.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, agreed to impress upon the authorities to reassess the restrictions and allow Metro trains and other railway services to operate in a suitably regulated manner to prevent inconvenience to residents and commuters.
The Bench clarified that there should be no outright prohibition on the movement of Metro trains, while allowing authorities to regulate their operations and those of other railway services in accordance with the principle of proportionality.
It also directed that decisions concerning regulated operations be given wide publicity to prevent further inconvenience to commuters. A traffic advisory must similarly be published in newspapers and on online platforms to facilitate smooth movement of vehicles.
The court directed the DMRC, the railway authorities concerned and Delhi Police (Traffic) to file a compliance report within four days.
Meanwhile, the Centre on Friday ordered the temporary suspension of mobile internet services within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing for 24 hours from 10 p.m. on October 9 to 10 p.m. on October 10.
The suspension was ordered as part of preventive security measures ahead of demonstrations planned for Saturday by the Congress-led INDIA bloc and other organisations, including the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
The protests are being organised amid opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with participating groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
Senior Delhi Police officers also held a high-level meeting at police headquarters on Friday to review the law-and-order situation and security arrangements ahead of the proposed demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. The meeting focused on preventive measures, crowd management and maintaining public order.
Meanwhile, the North Western Railway announced the cancellation of 13 Delhi-bound train services for Saturday, most of them originating from Haryana. The Bikaner Division cited operational reasons for the cancellations.
The proposed restrictions on Metro services and the cancellation of trains have raised concerns over the potential inconvenience to commuters, particularly students, employees and others dependent on public transport.
The Supreme Court emphasised that while authorities could exercise abundant caution to maintain law and order, preventive measures must be limited to what was necessary to address potential disturbances.
The court’s directions came amid heightened security preparations across the national capital ahead of Saturday’s planned demonstrations, with authorities reviewing public transport operations, traffic arrangements and crowd-control measures.
