The Supreme Court on Friday questioned petitioners challenging restrictions imposed in Delhi ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) planned protest on October 10, asking how it could balance the rights of demonstrators with the needs of residents without hearing from the organisers.

The court sought details about who was organising the protest and how many people were expected to attend, indicating that it needed a clearer picture of the demonstration before considering how competing rights could be protected.

Court Seeks Details Of Protest Organisers

“How do we balance if the scales are not here before us? Give us something,” the court asked the petitioners, seeking information about the group planning the demonstration and its expected turnout.

The bench said it needed to hear both sides to assess the competing claims, including the rights of people seeking to protest and those who rely on public transport and access to essential facilities.

“To strike a balance, we need two things: citizens before us who want their basic rights, and the group that wants to protest. We do not have the latter before us,” the court observed.

Balancing Protest Rights And Public Convenience

The proceedings centre on restrictions imposed in Delhi ahead of the planned demonstration. The petitioners have challenged the measures, while the court’s questions focused on how any decision could account for the rights of protesters as well as the everyday needs of other citizens.

By seeking information about the organisers and expected attendance, the court indicated that it wanted details of the proposed gathering before determining how the competing interests should be balanced.

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