Section 163 Imposed Across New Delhi; Several Metro Station Gates Closed Ahead of Jantar Mantar Protest

Delhi Police on Friday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across the New Delhi district ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Security was stepped up at Jantar Mantar, with police personnel and water cannons deployed at the protest site.

The prohibitory order restricts gatherings of five or more people, processions, demonstrations, picketing and dharnas without prior written permission from the authorities. It also prohibits the carrying of firearms, weapons, lathis, sticks, swords, brickbats and other potentially dangerous objects.

Raising slogans and delivering speeches as part of unauthorised gatherings have also been prohibited.

DCP Sachin Sharma said Section 163 was in force across the New Delhi district and urged people to comply with the restrictions.

“Section 163 is in force in New Delhi. I would like to inform everyone that any kind of unauthorised sit-in or protest is not allowed here. Please follow the law, act lawfully and cooperate with the police,” Sharma told reporters.

Meanwhile, Delhi Metro services were also affected in view of the proposed mobilisation. Entry and exit at several metro stations were closed until further notice, while interchange facilities remained available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi and Central Secretariat.

The stations where entry and exit were listed for closure included Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi.

The proposed Jantar Mantar protest has been announced by the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). The organisations have sought the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and raised concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission and its handling of electoral rolls.

Delhi Police have not granted permission for the proposed march. However, the organisations have indicated that they intend to proceed with the mobilisation. A member of one of the groups said around 1,500 people were expected to participate.

The protest comes amid broader criticism from activists and student organisations over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Separately, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, has announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park at 4 p.m. on October 2.

Dipke had earlier claimed that Mumbai Police had denied permission for the group’s proposed protest against CEC Kumar. He subsequently announced that the organisation would hold the mobilisation on Gandhi Jayanti.

Mumbai Police, however, said it was “not empowered to grant permission” for a gathering at Shivaji Park in view of a 2013 Bombay High Court order. Police also said the area falls within a designated silence zone.