Delhi High Court Allows CJP Protest at Connaught Place on October 16; Police to Regulate Gathering

Delhi High Court Refuses to Ban CJP Protest

The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to restrain the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from organising a protest at Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16. The protest has been called by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who has urged people to gather carrying the national flag.

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma was hearing a petition filed by a licensed street vendor. The petitioner argued that the demonstration could affect traders and vendors in central Delhi, particularly during the festive season.

The court recorded the Delhi Police’s assurance that it would take all possible measures under the law to regulate and control the gathering.

Traders Raise Concerns Over Business Disruption

The street vendor’s lawyer argued that another weekend of restrictions in Connaught Place could affect businesses during the festive period. The lawyer also questioned the choice of Central Park as a protest venue and urged the court to intervene.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma appeared on behalf of the authorities and informed the court that steps had already been taken to regulate CJP-related activities.

CJP Protests Against Alleged Electoral Fraud

The proposed demonstration follows the detention of hundreds of people who had gathered for the CJP’s October 10 protest call near Jantar Mantar and Connaught Place. The party has been raising concerns over alleged electoral fraud and the police response to demonstrations.

At a press conference on Thursday, Dipke alleged that students and young protesters had been detained or removed from Delhi’s streets over the past two weeks. He also criticised the detention of opposition leaders and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of protecting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Dipke further said that CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remained in jail after being arrested in connection with an incident at Jantar Mantar. They face trespass charges after the location was reportedly denotified as a protest venue.

Opposition Parties Join the Protests

The agitation comes amid wider protests by opposition parties over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress-led INDIA bloc has also organised demonstrations against the central government over the issue.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has largely stayed away from the INDIA bloc’s activities, has announced that it will participate in the CJP’s protest at Connaught Place.

Meanwhile, AISA activist Neha Bora alleged that journalists covering recent demonstrations had been beaten, dragged away and detained for hours despite carrying press identification cards. She also alleged that cameras had been taken away from some journalists.

Supreme Court Issues Notice on SIR Petitions

Separately, the Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Election Commission of India, the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners on petitions filed by Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders concerning decisions related to the SIR of electoral rolls.

The proceedings also addressed the INDIA bloc’s October 12 march from Barakhamba Road towards the court premises. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked that nobody could browbeat the judiciary.

The Supreme Court also issued notices to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and others on a separate petition challenging the march. It directed that CCTV footage from the court premises during the protest be preserved.