Jantar Mantar: In an order issued on October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar said Jantar Mantar has been denotified as a designated protest site. Three venues replace it: Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground. The order says a Ministry of Home Affairs committee recommended the change. The site had already been out of reach for the INDIA bloc and the Cockroach Janta Party for several days.
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Why Ramlila Maidan Is A Problem
Ramlila Maidan is the nearest alternative, but it is booked until late December except for three days. The daily rate is Rs 50,000, plus a refundable Rs 55,000 deposit, which brings the first-day outlay to about Rs 1.21 lakh with taxes. Groups of up to 150 people can use a free area, but larger protests need official approval.
The Case For Denotification
- Bigger grounds can hold large crowds safely.
- Daily traffic and nearby offices are less disrupted.
- Jantar Mantar’s closeness to Parliament and other sensitive buildings raises security concerns.
- It follows the National Green Tribunal’s 2017 order to shift protests to Ramlila Maidan.
The Case Against It
- Protests lose visibility when held far from Parliament and the seat of power.
- Cost and booking waits can shut out small groups, students and unions.
- Dates booked for months make it hard to respond to sudden events.
- Critics say the right to peaceful assembly should not depend on money or availability. The Supreme Court has held that protest is a fundamental right, subject to reasonable restrictions.
What Happens Next
Opposition parties and protest groups may challenge the move, and the free-area rule will be tested by large gatherings. The real question is whether the new system balances order with the right to be heard.
