New Delhi, August 3: The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to examine a public interest litigation seeking the relocation of designated demonstration sites away from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana issued notices to the Union government and other concerned authorities, noting that the petition addresses critical issues regarding public access and movement.
The PIL, submitted by petitioner Satish Chand Kaushik, argues that the historic monument area in the heart of the national capital is no longer suitable for large-scale agitations. The plea underlines that frequent gatherings cause severe hardship to local residents and interrupt the supply of medical essentials and daily commodities.
Chief Justice Surya Kant noted during the hearing that the petition raises significant concerns regarding ingress and egress in the locality. The Chief Justice directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek instructions from relevant authorities, observing that the matter is important and requires dedicated examination.
The legal move comes shortly after major public demonstrations at the site, including recent large-scale agitations over the NEET-UG examination irregularities led by student groups and prominent civic activists.
During arguments, counsel for the petitioner referred to planned political marches towards high-security areas, citing safety concerns and requesting preventative directions. The top court declined to interfere with proposed political events, with Chief Justice Surya Kant asserting that law enforcement agencies possess the necessary mandate to handle situational management effectively.
