New Delhi, August 31: The Supreme Court has declined to issue an interim order against the Cockroach People’s Party (CJP) regarding their planned protest march on September 5. The court stated that there is currently no substantial reason to believe that this demonstration would disrupt law and order.
A bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan, issued a notice on an application challenging the proposed march but refused to schedule a hearing before September 5.
The detailed hearing for this case, along with other pending matters related to student protests, has been set for September 10. The application was filed by retired Delhi police officer Rajendra Singh, who sought directions to prevent large-scale protests or marches in sensitive areas of the national capital without necessary permissions.
Advocate Rizwan Ahmed, representing the petitioner, expressed concerns about the march from India Gate to the Delhi Police Headquarters. He argued that, considering the upcoming BRICS summit in the capital, the protest could pose challenges to law and order and security.
Ahmed noted that the announcement of the proposed demonstration was made via social media, and to his knowledge, the organizers had not sought permission from the authorities.
The lawyer also questioned how such a protest could be conducted without authorization and raised concerns about the potential for law and order issues on the eve of the international summit.
The Chief Justice’s bench dismissed the notion that the proposed protest would lead to any untoward incidents. The Supreme Court stated, “For now, we will assume, and we have no reason to doubt, that everyone will behave in a highly responsible, peaceful, and lawful manner. Therefore, we currently have no solid reason to predict that something wrong will occur.”
The Supreme Court emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for maintaining law and order lies with police officials and advised the petitioner to address their complaints and concerns to the central government.
The bench, led by the Chief Justice, stated, “We are not calling anyone who is not a party before us. Please contact the central government.”
The lawyer sought an urgent hearing before the proposed march, arguing that the organizers could not be made parties because the Chief Justice has no registered office or letterhead. He also questioned how a protest could be organized without the necessary permission and urged the Supreme Court to consider the matter before September 5.
However, the bench, presided over by Chief Justice Chandrachud, was reluctant to prevent the organizers’ actions and stated that the central and Delhi authorities must ensure that law and order remains within the legal framework.
These comments from the Supreme Court followed the Chief Justice’s announcement of a peaceful protest march from India Gate to the Delhi Police Headquarters on September 5, where he stated that the central government has failed to fulfill promises made to the youth on July 25.
The party indicated that the march would be led by families of victims of the NEET exam and alleged police brutality, with participation from students and young citizens across the country.
In announcing the march, the Chief Justice accused the government of delaying the implementation of promises made to the youth and avoiding clear assurances even before the Supreme Court.
The party referenced proceedings from August 18, where it claimed the Supreme Court had repeatedly requested a list of FIRs registered across the country to consider the issue of collective cancellation.
The Chief Justice remarked that the government has shown no clear commitment on this issue and that the organization is still awaiting written assurances from the government.
The party stated, “We announce a peaceful protest march from India Gate to the Delhi Police Headquarters on September 5, led by families of students who lost their lives in the NEET exam and victims of police brutality, with participation from students and young citizens nationwide.”
The Chief Judicial Council noted that it feels “forced to return to the streets” due to betrayal experienced by the Gen-Z generation and families who have lost their children.
The party has appealed to students, youth organizations, and young citizens to gather at India Gate and participate peacefully in the march.
The Supreme Court is now set to conduct a detailed hearing on this application along with other pending matters related to student protests associated with the CJP on September 10.
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