New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to pass any immediate order against the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)’s proposed protest march in Delhi on September 5, despite an urgent plea seeking intervention before the demonstration, the Live Law reported.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, issued notice to the Centre and Delhi Police but refused to advance the hearing before the scheduled protest. The matter has been posted for September 10, when it will be heard along with other cases concerning the student protests.
The plea was filed by retired Delhi Police officer Rajendra Singh, who sought restrictions on large demonstrations in sensitive parts of the capital without necessary permissions. His counsel, Dr Rizan Ahmed, told the court that, to his knowledge, the organisers had not sought police permission for the march.
Ahmed also raised concerns about the timing, citing the upcoming BRICS Summit in Delhi and the presence of international dignitaries. He sought to postpone the protest until the summit concludes.
The court, however, declined to assume that the demonstration would turn violent, noting that law-and-order arrangements fall primarily within the police authorities’ domain. The petitioner was directed to raise his concerns with the Centre and the Delhi Police.
The CJP has called the September 5 march to protest the Centre’s alleged failure to withdraw cases against students booked during the July agitation over alleged examination-paper irregularities. The petitioner also cited violence during the organisation’s July 20 Sansad march while warning of possible trouble during the upcoming demonstration.