Delhi Police’s Ban on Public Gatherings Lifted: Update from India’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to the Supreme Court

Solicitor General informs Supreme Court to lift ban on public gatherings in Delhi during Navratri festival

India’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that the Delhi Police Commissioner’s order banning public gatherings of five or more people between September 30 and October 5 has been revoked.

Mehta filed the submission in response to senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy’s plea seeking an urgent hearing citing the ongoing Navratri festival.

Guruswamy told a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud: “With Navratri coming, this has an impact on the city. Ramlila and Durga Puja celebrations cannot be held held.”

CJI Chandrachud responded: “When the Solicitor General says the order has been withdrawn, all bets are off now.”

The petitioner Sunil is the secretary of the Manas Naman Sewa Society – which organizes the Ramlila Fair at Satpura Square in Chiragadhri and serves as The priests of the Kalkaji Temple – held that the original order was a gross violation of the civil rights under Article 14 of the Constitution. , Articles 19(1)(b), 19(1)(d) (guaranteeing the fundamental rights of citizens to equality and freedom), Article 21 (protecting the fundamental right to life and personal liberty) and Article 25 (conferring constitutional provisions to Indians the right to religious freedom, with some limitations).

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The petitioners added that the order had created fear among Delhi residents about the impact on their religious practices.

The Delhi Police Commissioner issued an order on September 30, invoking his powers under Section 163 of the Indian Laws (BNSS), banning public gatherings in New Delhi, North and Central Delhi areas and areas near Delhi borders. six days.

The police pointed out that the law and order situation is sensitive due to the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, MCD Standing Committee election dispute, DUSU elections, protests planned by various organizations and the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana.

The petition argued that instead of policing law and order, the police were trying to evade responsibility by restricting lawful gatherings. It also noted that other religious holidays had been allowed in the past without such restrictions.

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