Supreme Court Seeks Reply on CEC Protest at Ramlila Maidan

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre and other parties on a plea filed by traders’ organisations seeking an end to ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar during the festive season. The petition raises concerns about business disruptions and public access around the protest site at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), the court observed that a protest site cannot be occupied indefinitely and stressed that different groups must have an opportunity to exercise their right to protest during designated periods.

Supreme Court Says Protest Sites Cannot Be Occupied Indefinitely

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing multiple petitions, including one filed by the Kirana Committee Delhi. The traders’ organisation alleged that businesses had suffered losses because of the protest at Ramlila Maidan.

Emphasising the need to balance protest rights with access to designated public spaces, Chief Justice Surya Kant said:

“You can’t occupy a site at all times. Where will farmers, journalists, etc., go? Everyone has the right to protest. Designated time must be given for designated period.”

The bench said the organisers of the protest against the Chief Election Commissioner should be included as parties to the traders’ petition. It observed that the court could not properly decide the issues without hearing all the organisations involved in the demonstrations.

Traders Claim Business Losses Due to Ramlila Maidan Protest

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the traders, told the court that around 50 lakh people lived in areas near the protest site. He claimed that shops remained closed and that there was nobody in Connaught Place on Tuesday.

The traders’ organisations have raised concerns about the impact of the demonstrations on commercial activity during the festive season, when businesses typically depend on customer movement and public access.

Pleas Also Raise Allegations of Police Action and Internet Shutdown

The batch of petitions before the Supreme Court also raised concerns about alleged mass detentions, police brutality, the closure of Metro stations and an internet shutdown linked to the protests, PTI reported.

The court is considering these issues alongside the traders’ claims of business disruption. The petitions raise questions about how the right to protest can be balanced with the interests of local businesses, commuters and residents.

Supreme Court Previously Sought Responses on SIR-Related Plea

The hearing also comes against the backdrop of another case concerning allegations of voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

On October 15, the same bench had sought responses from the Election Commission of India and other parties on a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 12 opposition leaders. The plea raised concerns about alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the revision process.

The Supreme Court hearing on the traders’ petition was underway on Tuesday, with responses sought from the Centre and other parties. The court has also asked the traders’ organisations to bring the protest organisers into the proceedings before it considers the issues further.