A plea was submitted to the Supreme Court on Friday in response to the proposed shutdown of metro stations and the cancellation of trains to Delhi scheduled for October 10. This action comes ahead of a planned protest by the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) alongside various student organisations against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The petitioners claimed that these restrictions would essentially create a lockdown in the city, infringing upon citizens’ fundamental right to protest.

The court was informed about the extensive barricading occurring across large sections of Delhi. Representing the Communist Party of India (Marxist), senior advocate Kapil Sibal alleged that directives had been issued for a complete lockdown of the region. He noted that the current information indicates that 57 metro stations may be closed, and there would be cancellations of trains leading into the capital.

Advocates Highlight Concerns Over City Restrictions

Senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Prashant Bhushan supported Sibal’s arguments, expressing grave concerns regarding the potential sweeping closures of metro stations and barricading throughout the city. They emphasised that halting operations across the entire city due to police fears surrounding law and order was not a reasonable response. The lawyers stated that while authorities have their apprehensions, the entire metropolis cannot be effectively immobilised as a preventive measure.

During the proceedings, Justice Joymalya Bagchi proposed that, if the organisers of the protest were present, the court could inquire about anticipated participation numbers, urging an unarmed demonstration. Justice Bagchi noted that any protest conducted without proper permissions would not be lawful, yet he affirmed that such actions were not unconstitutional.

The judges expressed that any restraining order would require hearing all involved parties and carefully balancing the equities at stake. This indicates a need for due process and consideration of the rights of all affected individuals, including both the protestors and the city’s residents.

Legal Teams Prepare for Further Proceedings

In light of the developments, Sibal, Singhvi, Bhushan, along with senior advocates Vrinda Grover and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, communicated their intention to return to the Supreme Court by 2 pm with a formal petition challenging the citywide restrictions. They aim to argue against the planned closures of metro stations and roads, as well as the extensive barricading measures being employed.

The timeline for the proceedings highlights the urgency of addressing the proposed measures ahead of the upcoming protest on October 10. As citizens’ rights to assembly and movement come under scrutiny, the Supreme Court is positioned to review the implications of the city’s actions in this context.

As the situation unfolds, the legal community and public stakeholders are monitoring the outcomes of the upcoming court hearings. The discussions on maintaining public order while safeguarding constitutional rights remain critical as Delhi approaches the date of the anticipated protest.

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