The Delhi High Court has requested guidance from relevant authorities regarding petitions related to protests and the utilisation of public roads. This request was made during a session on Tuesday, where the court expressed its intention to avoid delving into matters currently pending before the Supreme Court. The petitions in question reference the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Amit Sahni case, which addresses the intersection of protests and public road usage. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing for Friday to further discuss these issues.

Petitioners Highlight Financial Impact on Traders

During the hearing, petitioners raised significant concerns regarding the financial ramifications that the lack of adherence to the Supreme Court’s directives has had on local traders and street vendors. They argued that the ongoing protests and the resulting road blockages have led to considerable economic losses for these groups, who rely on public access to conduct their businesses. The petitioners also requested permission to present their arguments before the Supreme Court, where related proceedings are already underway.

The ongoing legal discussions occur against the backdrop of widespread protests in Delhi, particularly concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. These protests have drawn attention from various political and civil society groups, further complicating the situation on the ground.

In a related development, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has extended an invitation to leaders of the INDIA bloc, civil society members, and student organisations for a gathering at his residence at 4 pm. Gandhi has indicated that the participants in this meeting are unified in their cause and plan to address the media collectively following their discussions. He emphasised that “all protests are one,” signalling a coordinated effort among various factions opposing the current government policies.

Increased Security Amid Ongoing Protests

The court’s proceedings coincide with heightened tensions in Delhi, as protests continue to unfold over the SIR exercise. Recently, leaders from the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were reportedly detained after attempting to breach security at Jantar Mantar. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has alleged that the detained leaders, including Ajinkya, are being denied access to their legal representatives. In response to these detentions, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) organised a flash protest on Janpath Road, which also resulted in detentions.

The Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) concerning the Opposition’s march towards the Supreme Court, which has further intensified the security measures in place. According to sources from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the deployment of approximately 20,000 paramilitary personnel in the national capital has been extended for an additional four weeks, reflecting the government’s heightened concern over the ongoing protests and potential unrest.

Political Accusations Surrounding Election Commission

In a separate development, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has publicly accused the Congress party of misusing the Election Commission for political gain. He alleged that individuals within the commission have been rewarded with political appointments after serving in constitutional roles. Goyal specifically referenced former Chief Election Commissioners MS Gill and T.N. Seshan while questioning the integrity of these appointments.

Additionally, Goyal raised concerns regarding the appointment of Naveen Chawla as Election Commissioner in 2005, citing a request made by former CEC N. Gopalaswami in 2009 for Chawla’s removal. He contended that the then Congress-led government failed to act on this request, suggesting undue influence from prominent Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. These allegations have yet to be independently verified and remain contentious within the political landscape.

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