News desk: A contempt petition has been filed in the Supreme Court alleging that authorities failed to comply with its October 9 order concerning restrictions on Delhi Metro services and the cancellation of trains ahead of a protest scheduled at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, October 10.
The protest has been organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Security arrangements and transport restrictions in the national capital have become a major point of concern ahead of the demonstration.
The Supreme Court had directed the Centre and Delhi Police to lift blanket restrictions on metro and railway services. The court observed that security measures should not amount to a complete prohibition on public transport or cause unnecessary inconvenience to ordinary citizens. It also directed authorities to publish traffic advisories ahead of the proposed protest.
What does the contempt petition allege?
The petition was filed on Saturday by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi. It alleged that despite the Supreme Court's directions, authorities had not changed their decision to close metro stations and cancel several trains bound for Delhi, including services terminating at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations.
The petitioner claimed that these measures continued despite the court's instructions to ensure that members of the public did not face inconvenience.
The plea stated that authorities had maintained what it described as a blanket shutdown across transport corridors, continued unnecessary train cancellations and failed to issue or publicise clear traffic and transit advisories.
The petition argued that these actions amounted to a disregard for the Supreme Court's directions and sought accountability for the alleged non-compliance.
Senior officials named in the plea
The petition named Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chairperson D Thara as officials against whom contempt proceedings were sought.
The allegations are part of the legal challenge to the restrictions imposed in connection with the planned CJP demonstration. The filing of the petition does not, by itself, establish that contempt of court has occurred.
Restrictions ahead of the protest
Delhi witnessed heightened security arrangements ahead of the demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Authorities had imposed transport restrictions citing security concerns surrounding the protest.
The Supreme Court's earlier order sought to ensure that security arrangements did not completely disrupt public transport and that commuters received adequate information about traffic diversions and service changes.
The contempt plea has brought the implementation of those directions under further legal scrutiny. The key issue is whether the authorities complied with the court's instructions while managing security for the proposed demonstration.
Further proceedings will determine how the court responds to the allegations and whether any explanation is sought from the officials named in the petition.
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