ഡൽഹിയിൽ സമാധാനപരമായ പ്രതിഷേധങ്ങൾക്കായി ജന്തർ മന്തറിന് പകരം അടിസ്ഥാന സൗകര്യങ്ങളുള്ള മറ്റൊരു സ്ഥലം കണ്ടെത്താൻ കേന്ദ്ര സർക്കാരിനോട് സുപ്രീം കോടതി നിർദ്ദേശിച്ചു. പ്രതിഷേധക്കാർക്ക് സൗകര്യപ്രദമായ ഒരിടം വേണമെന്ന ആവശ്യം കോടതി അംഗീകരിച്ചു. രാംലീല മൈതാനം പോലുള്ള സ്ഥലങ്ങൾ പരിഗണിക്കാമെന്നും കോടതി നിരീക്ഷിച്ചു.
The Supreme Court on Friday asked the government to consider identifying a venue other than Jantar Mantar for peaceful protests in the national capital. The court said there was a need for a suitable site with basic amenities for demonstrators.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant made the observation while hearing a plea against proposed restrictions on metro stations and the cancellation of trains coming to Delhi ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and certain student organisations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court the competent authority would consider designating another place for peaceful protests, and said senior advocate Kapil Sibal was also agreeable to the suggestion.
The bench, which also comprised justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said: "During the course of hearing, it was also suggested, and learned senior counsel/counsel for parties are ad idem that it's high time that some suitable place where all basic amenities can be provided for peaceful and lawful protestors needs to be identified and designated. Let the competent authority consider the suggestion and take an appropriate decision." Mehta asked the court to record the submission in its order.
During the hearing, the court was told that police had denied permission to the CJP and the Indian Youth Congress to hold demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, which is the designated protest site. The bench was also informed that the possibility of holding the protests at Ramlila Maidan had not been considered. Advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted that if permission at Jantar Mantar was being denied, the authorities could have allowed the demonstrators to gather at Ramlila Maidan.
The Chief Justice pointed to practical difficulties in holding protests at Jantar Mantar, saying government residences and the homes of some Members of Parliament were located nearby. He also referred to the lack of basic facilities for demonstrators, and said, "There are government residences there. Some MPs stay in the front lane there. Lots of problems even to protesters. They are denied toilets there." The solicitor general also said an ambulance could face difficulty reaching the site if a protester fell ill.
After dictating the order, the court left it to the competent authority to examine the suggestion and take an appropriate decision. Mehta again said the Centre would consider designating an alternative protest venue, as the court underlined the need for a lawful protest site with basic facilities.