The Supreme Court on Friday declined to pass an immediate order on a petition filed by Delhi traders’ associations expressing apprehension of massive business losses due to the proposed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Central Park and subsequent market closures.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that the court would intervene if any unlawful disruption of business occurred, scheduling the next hearing for the last week of October.
Highlighting the plight of small shopkeepers during the peak festive and wedding season, CJI Surya Kant remarked, “We know that all small shopkeepers earn their livelihood during these days. We know the hardship and difficulty entire families will face.”
Represented by bodies like the Delhi Kirana Committee, petitioners claimed that recent protests since October 10 have caused staggering losses amounting to Rs 2,000 crore, with Connaught Place traders alone losing up to Rs 200 crore daily.
The plea demands uninterrupted market access, designated protest sites away from commercial hubs, and a standard operating procedure (SOP) for managing demonstrations.
Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke blamed the government’s heavy-handed restrictions and shutdowns for the economic distress.