The Delhi Police increased restrictions and heightened security measures on Friday, including the closure of metro stations and disruptions to travel routes, ahead of major protests scheduled for the next day.
Delhi is preparing for a large-scale demonstration that aims to force the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after allegations of irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The latest wave of protests, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), student unions and opposition parties, began on October 2. Organisers say the demand for Kumar’s resignation stems from controversies surrounding SIR, most notably the removal of more than 130 million names from the voters’ list since 2025.
Protest Restrictions
The Delhi Police have not granted the CJP and All India Students’ Association (AISA) permission for the protest. Police have also announced heightened vigilance at Delhi’s entry points. Several student-union members and activists linked to the planned rally have been detained, placed under house arrest, or intercepted while traveling toward the city.
The city police are also coordinating with cab aggregators, Ola and Uber, to limit the movement towards Lutyens’ Delhi. Bulk food and grocery delivery apps will also be tracked, and hotels have been asked to not make reservations. An Excise Department order has also asked all liquor stores to be shut down till Sunday, citing public order.
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Supreme Court Intervention
A slew of petitioners approached the Supreme Court seeking relief from the announced closure of metro stations and the cancellation of long-distance trains to the capital. The Supreme Court provided partial relief and asked the Centre not to completely shut down the train services to Delhi and Delhi Metro services ahead of the October 10 protests, ensuring that commuters are not inconvenienced.
The bench has ruled that restrictions must be proportionate and minimal rather than complete prohibitions, stating that authorities cannot “use a hammer to kill a fly.” The Apex Court has also pointed out the need for the Centre to designate an alternate location to Jantar Mantar for peaceful protests.
A mobile-internet shutdown has been ordered in Central Delhi, covering a 4-kilometre radius from the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing. The blackout will start at 10 P.M. on October 9 and continue until the same hour on the protest day. Several civil-society groups have condemned the move, noting that the official order was never published by the authorities.
Reaction to Restrictions
Aakar Patel, chair of the board at Amnesty International India, criticised the disproportionate restrictions imposed by the Delhi Police and the Central Government. He argued that peaceful demonstrators must be able to demand accountability from those in power without facing intimidation, arbitrary detention, or sweeping curbs on their freedoms.
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