Delhi High Court seeks Centre's stand on regulating protests in Delhi

The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to respond to pleas seeking stricter regulation of protests in the capital. The case spotlights the tension between public demonstrations, court guidelines and festive-season business losses.

In Short

• Bench asked petitioners to submit Supreme Court pleadings before Friday's hearing
• Judges said they would avoid matters already pending before the apex court
• Opposition, student and civil society protests have continued across Central Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Centre's stand on petitions filed by traders, vendors and lawyers seeking regulation of protests in the national capital in line with the governing standard operating procedures.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma asked counsel for the central government and other authorities to seek instructions before the matter is taken up on Friday. The bench also asked the petitioners to place on record a copy of the protest-related petitions pending in the Supreme Court, saying, "We don't want to cover an area already sub judice in the Supreme Court." Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma said the petitions in the top court have been adjourned to October 15.

The petitions come against the backdrop of large protests in Central Delhi by various opposition parties, student groups and civil society members since June-July this year over issues related to the functioning of the Election Commission. Senior lawyers for the petitioners argued that the Supreme Court has passed several directions on regulating protests and these should be followed.

Senior counsel Sanjay Poddar, appearing for the traders, said October to February was the "best time for business" because of the festive season, but recent protests had hurt trade. Senior counsel Sacchin Puri, appearing for petitioner Rishabh Saxena, a lawyer, said "hundreds and hundreds" of people had held a protest in Central Delhi in the recent past, bringing everything to a halt.

The cases were taken up after the bench earlier in the day allowed Puri's request for an urgent hearing. While mentioning the matter, Puri submitted, "Traders have lost up to Rs 2,000 crore in recent times because of barricading and how protests are happening... People can't approach areas like Connaught Place. It is completely unapproachable." The court has now sought the Centre's response while also asking the petitioners to place the Supreme Court pleadings on record before the next hearing.

- Ends