Supreme Court postpones hearing on Delhi protest crackdown amid judge’s illness
The Supreme Court deferred a batch of petitions on the Delhi protest crackdown to Oct. 15 because Justice V Mohana was unwell, and gave police until Wednesday evening to answer contempt notices.
On Tuesday the Supreme Court pushed back the hearing on a series of petitions challenging Delhi police’s handling of a protest and related transport restrictions to October 15, after Justice V Mohana reported illness. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Mohana, agreed to the adjournment for both sides, allowing the ailing judge time to recover. The petitions allege unlawful detentions, assaults on protesters and sweeping bans on metro and railway services ahead of a rally calling for chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The court also granted Delhi Police and other agencies until Wednesday evening to answer contempt notices accusing them of flouting earlier directives, and indicated that revised petitions could be considered on Thursday if filing defects are cured. The move follows a prior order that peaceful protesters may be detained only under the “procedure established by law” and that normal public-transport and internet services should continue. Lawyers and senior advocates have accused authorities of excessive force and suppression during the crackdown.
Why it matters
The delay shapes legal oversight of police conduct and electoral reform debates ahead of a major Delhi protest.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the Supreme Court's adjournment due to a judge's illness, but left-leaning coverage foregrounds alleged police misconduct, while right-leaning coverage foregrounds the health rationale and procedural comments from the Solicitor General.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage emphasizes the petitions' allegations of unlawful detentions, assaults on protesters and bans, presenting the postponement against a backdrop of police misconduct.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage emphasizes the judge’s illness and the Solicitor General’s call to defer the hearing, framing the adjournment as a health-driven procedural decision.
The left emphasises
- unlawful detentions, assaults on protesters and sweeping bans on metro and railway services
- contempt notices accusing police of flouting earlier directives
The right emphasises
- judge’s illness and the need not to ignore medical conditions
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urging the judges to defer the hearing
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