📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Women and Child Development
Politics
CJI warns whole nation could turn into Jantar Mantar after Delhi site de-listed
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 13 Oct 2026, 02:02 AM
👁 11
Chief Justice of India said the removal of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue could lead to nationwide unrest, likening the entire country to a Jantar Mantar.
The Delhi administration has removed Jantar Mantar from the list of approved locations where public demonstrations can be held. The decision, taken after a series of legal challenges, has sparked a sharp reaction from the judiciary.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Prashant Kumar Mishra, addressing the media, warned that the move could trigger a wave of protests across the country. He remarked, "If the capital’s historic protest ground is taken away, the whole nation may turn into a Jantar Mantar," underscoring the symbolic importance of the site.
Legal experts note that Jantar Mantar has long been a focal point for civic dissent, and its de‑listing may push demonstrators to seek alternative, less regulated venues. The CJI’s comments highlight concerns about maintaining democratic space for peaceful assembly.
Government officials, however, maintain that the decision was based on security considerations and the need to manage traffic congestion in the area. They have assured that alternative arrangements for lawful protests will be facilitated.
The episode adds to an ongoing debate in India about the balance between public order and the right to protest, a theme that has featured prominently in recent court rulings and parliamentary discussions.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Prashant Kumar Mishra, addressing the media, warned that the move could trigger a wave of protests across the country. He remarked, "If the capital’s historic protest ground is taken away, the whole nation may turn into a Jantar Mantar," underscoring the symbolic importance of the site.
Legal experts note that Jantar Mantar has long been a focal point for civic dissent, and its de‑listing may push demonstrators to seek alternative, less regulated venues. The CJI’s comments highlight concerns about maintaining democratic space for peaceful assembly.
Government officials, however, maintain that the decision was based on security considerations and the need to manage traffic congestion in the area. They have assured that alternative arrangements for lawful protests will be facilitated.
The episode adds to an ongoing debate in India about the balance between public order and the right to protest, a theme that has featured prominently in recent court rulings and parliamentary discussions.