The Supreme Court on Monday refused to issue any immediate directions against the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) planned September 5 protest march from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters, observing that there was currently no reason to believe the demonstration would result in any untoward incident.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said maintaining law and order was primarily the responsibility of the government and police and asked the petitioner to first approach the relevant authorities.
“For now, we will presume that everyone will act responsibly and conduct themselves peacefully and lawfully,” the CJI said.
The court observed that the issue involved two separate dimensions—law and order and broader policy matters—and said the concerned stakeholders should initially take up their concerns with the authorities.
“We are quite sure that they will act within the legal framework,” Justice Surya Kant said, referring to the Centre and Delhi government’s responsibility for maintaining law and order.
The bench found no immediate circumstances that justified imposing a pre-emptive restriction on the proposed march. However, it allowed the petitioner to approach the court again if the situation changes.
“If something alarming is happening, then you can always make a mention,” the CJI said, while clarifying that any future intervention would have to involve an issue falling within the court’s judicial jurisdiction.
The case is scheduled to be heard next on September 10.
WHY IS CJP PLANNING THE SEPTEMBER 5 MARCH?
The CJP announced the fresh protest march on August 24, alleging that the Centre had failed to fulfil assurances given when the party ended its large-scale nationwide agitation over the NEET paper leak on July 25.
The party has subsequently claimed that several commitments, particularly those relating to FIRs and written assurances, remain unfulfilled.
While announcing the September 5 demonstration, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the march would remain peaceful but accused the government of “vishwasghaat”, or betrayal, towards protesters and families who had lost loved ones.
“The National Working Committee expressed serious doubts over whether the Government of India intends to honour its commitments made to the young generation on July 25,” Das said.
He added that the party had therefore called for a peaceful march beginning at India Gate and continuing to the New Delhi Police Headquarters.
The demonstration, he said, would be led by families of NEET students who died by suicide as well as those affected by the alleged police brutality on July 20.
