Delhi Police removes barricades at Jantar Mantar after denotifying protest site
The police have designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Maidan and CBD Ground as alternative venues for demonstrations.
Delhi Police have removed barricades at Jantar Mantar following an order to denotify the location as an authorised protest site. According to ANI, the removal follows months of restrictions in the area, which has historically been a centre for political demonstrations.
In a counter-affidavit filed in response to a petition by journalist Swaty Singh, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar told the Supreme Court that the area is actually a public road. Kumar stated that marking the stretch as a permanent venue for protests had been against the public interest from the beginning.
The police told the court that the decision was based on recommendations from a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) committee. The MHA had formed the committee on August 26 to examine the site and suggest alternatives. The police noted that the proposal to change the venue had been under consideration by the police and the Central government for a long time.
The affidavit stated that Jantar Mantar sees more than 1,300 protests annually but has an assessed capacity of only about 1,500 people. Police claimed that large gatherings, such as a July protest by the Cockroach Janta Party, have exceeded this capacity and created risks of stampedes.
The Commissioner noted that the site's proximity to 78 embassies, 99 Union government offices and residential areas with 64,500 residents causes issues for traffic and emergency services. The police have now designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Maidan and CBD Ground as alternative locations for protests.