New Delhi, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Supreme Court of India has intervened to ensure that Delhi Metro services are not completely halted ahead of a planned protest. On October 9, the court instructed the central government to take necessary measures to maintain metro and other rail services with appropriate regulations, preventing inconvenience to the public.
The directive was issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohan. This ruling came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that officials would reconsider the restrictions imposed in light of the upcoming demonstration.
The protest is organized by the Cockroach Public Party (CJP) and aims to hold Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar accountable.
The court emphasized the key issue at hand: whether the complete suspension of metro services at certain stations is a reasonable and proportional response to the planned protest. The bench noted the distinction between completely halting services and operating them in a controlled manner. Officials were reminded to consider proportionality when implementing preventive measures.
Tushar Mehta reassured the court that the relevant authorities would allow for regulated operation of metro and other rail services to avoid causing distress to the residents of Delhi.
Based on this assurance, the Supreme Court clarified that there would be no total halt to metro train operations. The court also instructed authorities to widely publicize the decisions regarding the controlled operation of metro and rail services. This is aimed at timely informing passengers and preventing additional inconvenience. Furthermore, the bench directed the issuance of traffic advisories to assist travelers in navigating the national capital without facing undue challenges.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General agreed to consider suggestions for identifying an alternative location equipped with necessary facilities for a peaceful and lawful protest. The bench, led by the Chief Justice, urged the central government to make a suitable decision regarding the proposed location for the demonstration.
This ruling comes amid concerns about the potential closure of 57 metro stations and the cancellation or rescheduling of several trains arriving at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations ahead of the protest planned for October 10.
Delhi police have denied permission for the protest, citing concerns related to public safety, traffic management, and law and order. They also noted that Section 163 of the Indian National Security Code (BNSC) is in effect in the New Delhi area.
In its order, the Supreme Court granted the protest organizers the right to file an immediate petition for a hearing, noting that no such petition had been submitted thus far.
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