Ahead of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest scheduled for October 10 at Jantar Mantar, the Supreme Court has issued directives to prevent widespread transport disruptions in the national capital. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, cautioned against sweeping closures that would hinder the movement of students, employees, and senior citizens relying on public transit.
The court’s intervention followed petitions challenging the proposed suspension of 57 metro stations and the cancellation of long-distance trains. Emphasizing the principle of proportionality, Chief Justice Kant noted that while authorities are tasked with maintaining law and order, security measures should not impose unnecessary hardship on the general public. “You have to prevent certain things. Take measures only to the extent necessary to prevent them. But that does not mean you should use a hammer to kill a fly,” the Chief Justice stated during the proceedings.
In its order, the bench mandated that there should be no complete prohibition on metro services. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that authorities would be urged to regulate services in a manner that avoids a total shutdown. Furthermore, the court directed officials to review road traffic restrictions to maintain a free flow of movement and called for the issuance of a clear, publicised traffic advisory to minimize commuter confusion.
Beyond immediate transport issues, the Supreme Court also suggested that the Union government consider identifying suitable, designated venues for peaceful and lawful protests in the future. The upcoming demonstration by the CJP is being held to demand the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. Authorities have been instructed to ensure that any regulatory decisions regarding transportation remain transparent and widely communicated to the public to mitigate further inconvenience as the protest date approaches.
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