Supreme Court asked to craft national guidelines balancing protests and commuter safety

In New Delhi, a public-interest litigation was filed by Aalok Mohan, with counsel V Elanchezian, seeking a Supreme Court directive for a nationwide policy on peaceful protests. The filing highlights that, despite constitutional protection for assembly, the lack of a cohesive national framework leads to ad-hoc administrative practices that can impede commuters, patients, students and emergency responders. Citing rapid population growth and urbanisation, the petition urges Chief Justice Surya Kant's bench to mandate the government to establish minimum standards for planning and developing infrastructure that accommodates demonstrations while safeguarding other fundamental rights.

The petition also references other pending suits that request identification of protest sites equipped with water, sanitation, food and medical aid. The court signalled it will review the issue together with those related petitions, potentially shaping future protest-management guidelines across the country.