Jantar Mantar, the 18th-century observatory has been de-notified as a designated protest venue in Delhi. (File Photo)
The party gave authorities 24 hours to respond. On July 23, 2018, the Supreme Court tried to balance the competing interests. Jantar Mantar Road was designated for protests of up to 1,000 people, while larger gatherings were to be held at Ramlila Maidan.
The Delhi police have named three new sites: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, according to an official notice. They also said it would push protests farther from Parliament and the seat of government, making them less visible and harder to reach, especially for poorer protesters. The letter comes as the 18th-century observatory has been de-notified as a designated protest venue in Delhi. The decision follows heightened security arrangements after calls for protests in the capital. The Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, farmers’ organisations, the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement and others challenged the order in the Supreme Court. They argued that a blanket ban would violate the fundamental right to peaceful assembly. It recognised residents’ rights to peace and a clean environment alongside citizens’ fundamental right to protest peacefully. It directed authorities to regulate demonstrations through guidelines rather than prohibit them outright. The framework required prior police permission and set conditions on crowd size, duration, sanitation, noise, traffic management, public order and organisers’ responsibilities. The Delhi Police’s decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a protest venue marks another turn in its story. The observatory remains a monument to scientific inquiry, while the road beside it carries the legacy of generations who gathered there to seek justice, press for change and demand to be heard.
NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Monday wrote to the Delhi Police asking for permission and a fixed date to hold a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
