India Today ·
Delhi HC questions police over Karni Sena protest ban at Jantar Mantar
The Delhi High Court questioned the police refusal to allow the Kshatriya Karni Sena's protest at Jantar Mantar. It said curbs may be imposed, but a peaceful demonstration cannot be denied without considering another venue.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned the Delhi Police over its decision to deny permission to the Kshatriya Karni Sena to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar against the 2026 UGC regulations. The court also asked the police to state whether an alternative site could be given for a peaceful demonstration.
Hearing a petition filed by Kshatriya Karni Sena president Raj Shekhawat, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said the State could impose restrictions, including on the venue, but questioned a complete refusal. “I am asking the State, how can there be a blanket ban? If you want to put any restrictions, including the venue, please tell me,” the judge said.
The petitioner’s lawyer told the court that the Delhi Police had revoked its earlier approval for the protest scheduled at Jantar Mantar on September 20. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing in the matter, said no permission was being granted for protests at Jantar Mantar because the venue was in a “sensitive area”.
He further said that apart from space constraints, concerns over the amount of “likes and social media dissemination and engagement” had also weighed with the executive in taking a decision in the case. The law officer told the court that the authorities were acting in line with the applicable standing orders and the Supreme Court guidelines.
Justice Sharma, however, said that when the court had earlier asked the police to decide on the petitioner’s request, it had “clearly” observed that restrictions could be imposed while granting permission, especially since the protest was planned only for a few hours and there was no proposal to move anywhere else. “Can this kind of an order be passed? Just because you are apprehending that some persons can come? How can you refuse them? If you do not want them to protest at Jantar Mantar, then suggest some other place,” the court said.
The law officer said he would return with instructions on the issue of providing an alternative protest site. The case was listed for hearing on September 22.
On September 7, the high court had directed the Delhi Police to decide within a week on Shekhawat’s plea seeking permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar against the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. The petitioner’s counsel had earlier said the proposed peaceful protest was meant for “expressing views and grievances concerning reservation policies and matters relating to the new UGC framework”.
The hearing centred on whether the protest could be allowed at Jantar Mantar or shifted elsewhere, with the court making it clear that while restrictions may be imposed, a peaceful demonstration cannot be denied without considering an alternative venue.
