New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to urgently hear a plea filed by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) challenging the Delhi Police’s refusal to grant permission for a protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, at Jantar Mantar.
The matter was mentioned before Acting Chief Justice Nitin Vasudeo Sambre by senior advocate Sanjay Ghosh, who sought an urgent hearing of the petition filed by IYC President Uday Bhanu Chib.
“What is the urgency? We will hear it on Monday,” the Acting Chief Justice said, declining to list the matter for hearing on Friday.
The plea challenges the Delhi Police’s decision to deny permission for a peaceful demonstration against the CEC at Jantar Mantar.
According to the petition, the Indian Youth Congress had applied to the Delhi Police on September 25 seeking permission to hold a peaceful protest involving approximately 100–150 people.
However, despite repeated follow-ups, the rejection was communicated only on October 1, the date initially proposed for the demonstration, the plea stated.
The proposed protest comes amid ongoing demonstrations by Opposition INDIA Bloc leaders against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, with the Opposition demanding action against him over the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral polls.
Congress leader Udit Raj on Thursday backed the ongoing demonstrations, saying it was the Opposition’s role to save democracy.
INDIA Bloc leaders, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, held the third day of protests against the CEC.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders were released by the Delhi Police hours after being detained during a protest demanding action against the CEC.
They were among those who gathered near Akashvani Bhawan after being stopped from marching towards the poll body’s office.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in and around Jantar Mantar in view of the proposed protest, with Delhi Police personnel deployed at several locations and barricades erected near the ECI office.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has also been imposed in and around Jantar Mantar, restricting certain activities and gatherings in the area.
In a separate measure, the Delhi government has ordered liquor vends operating under specified licences to remain closed for two days from Friday as a preventive measure to maintain public order ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest.
