Supreme Court and Delhi High Court to Hear Opposition Pleas as Protest Deadlines Expire
The Supreme Court and Delhi High Court will consider petitions related to the Delhi protests, while the Cockroach Janata Party's 24-hour deadline for a protest date at Jantar Mantar ends today.
A coalition of opposition MPs and activists has approached the Supreme Court to contest the Election Commission's decisions on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, seeking an independent probe and the summons of related records. The Supreme Court and Delhi High Court will also examine the alleged shutdown of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue. The Cockroach Janata Party, represented by co-convener Ashutosh Ranka, gave the Delhi Police a 24-hour ultimatum to confirm a date for a protest at Jantar Mantar, a deadline that lapses today.
Security personnel have maintained barricades in parts of Central Delhi, and traffic police continue to advise motorists to avoid non-essential travel. All Delhi Metro stations have reopened, and Rahul Gandhi is expected to host a high-tea for opposition MPs, civil society members, and student activists, followed by a joint press conference. The developments occur amid mounting criticism of the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in voter deletions.
Why it matters
The hearings could reshape how election roll revisions are overseen and affect the right to protest in Delhi.
How this story developed
- Oct 8 Protests swell as India’s election commission faces allegations over voter-roll purge
- Oct 9 Delhi police say restrictions on the Cockroach Janta Party’s planned rally at Jantar Mantar are needed to avoid overcrowding and protect the public.
- Oct 9 Police have deployed over 20,000 officers and closed metro gates ahead of the planned protests.
- Oct 10 Police detained many individuals in the hours before the scheduled rally.
- Oct 10 Mumbai police detained Tushar Gandhi, a Gandhi descendant, as part of the wider crackdown.
- Oct 10 The Supreme Court ordered that some train services remain operational despite earlier shutdown orders.
- Oct 10 Police deployed thousands of personnel, closed 45 metro stations and detained additional opposition figures and activists.
- Oct 10 Authorities detained over 1,000 activists and arrested more than 600 people with criminal histories.
- Oct 11 Delhi imposed wide‑scale traffic diversions around key intersections as the protest entered its second day.
- Oct 11 CJP leaders were released after posting a ₹50,000 surety bond.
- Oct 12 Chief Justice Surya Kant declined a direct meeting and said any petition filed on Monday will be considered on Tuesday.
- Oct 12 Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc will march to the Supreme Court at 4 p.m. local time to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Oct 12 Authorities shut six metro stations and deployed thousands of security personnel for a third consecutive day.
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