New Delhi, Oct 12
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has vowed to intensify its agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, even as around 200 protesters were detained in New Delhi on Sunday as the demonstrations entered their second day. The Supreme Court directed authorities to ensure that peaceful protesters were not illegally detained and that public transport and internet services functioned normally, subject to lawful restrictions.
The protests were organised to demand Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The agitation continued amid heavy security deployment, barricades and restrictions around key areas of the national capital.
The Supreme Court, sitting as a special Bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking contempt proceedings over alleged violations of its earlier directions concerning metro and train services. The Bench reiterated that peaceful, unarmed people could not be detained except through procedures established by law.
The court also asked authorities to ensure that lawyers, journalists and other professionals were not obstructed from discharging their duties. It directed that metro and railway services function normally, internet facilities remain undisturbed subject to law, and restrictions around court complexes be reviewed to ensure access to justice.
Meanwhile, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were released after being produced before an executive magistrate. Delhi Police said they were released after furnishing a Rs 50,000 bond as a surety for maintaining peace and good behaviour for one year.
CJP leaders described the release as a legal victory and said the agitation would continue across the country until Kumar resigned. Das alleged that the authorities had acted unfairly and raised concerns over the seizure of phones during detention without proper documentation. These allegations have not been independently established.
Delhi Police registered 20 FIRs in connection with Saturday’s protests, including cases relating to alleged assaults on police personnel and obstruction of public servants. Authorities had detained more than 7,000 people on the first day as they moved to prevent a planned mass mobilisation at Jantar Mantar.
Student organisations, including the Students’ Federation of India, the All India Students’ Association and the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, also participated in Sunday’s demonstrations. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas and AISA president Neha Bora were among those detained.
The INDIA bloc is expected to continue its campaign, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi seeking a meeting with the Chief Justice of India to seek intervention over allegations of electoral irregularities.
The continuing protests have brought the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly, the powers of law enforcement agencies and the independence of electoral institutions into sharp focus. While the authorities have defended their security measures, the Supreme Court has stressed that restrictions and detentions must comply with the law.