New Delhi, Oct 9: The Supreme Court directed the Centre and Delhi Police to lift sweeping shutdowns on metro and train networks in Delhi, ruling that security arrangements must not morph into total prohibitions that disrupt regular life. Responding to the proposed closure of 57 metro stations and widespread train suspensions ahead of scheduled demonstrations, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana maintained that regulatory measures must remain proportional to law-enforcement needs. The judges stated that while authorities possess clear power to regulate transit routes to prevent unlawful assemblies, complete service halts infringe upon the rights of everyday commuters.
Law enforcement representatives agreed to review the blanket bans following the court’s observations regarding proportionality. The apex court directed security agencies to issue revised transit advisories, ensuring public transportation remains accessible to residents while enabling reasonable crowd regulation.
