Supreme Court, in a special sitting on Friday, ordered the removal of barricades encircling the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court and revoked enforcement of BNSS Section 163, which had been used to clamp down on large gatherings amid the Cockroach Janta Party protest—an order that will free commuters on Oct. 10.
Chief Justice Surya Kant, joined by Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, underscored that the right to protest must remain within the bounds of the Police Act, warning that “the protest must be peaceful and not incite violence.”
The bench directed Delhi Police, the Union Home Secretary and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to file a compliance report by the coming Tuesday, making clear that a “complete prohibition” of metro and train movement on Oct. 10 is unacceptable.
CJP leaders and opposition figures have already demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR process, a demand that the court noted but did not address in this sitting.
A 35‑year‑old mother of three, who had to detour her way to her son’s school because of the barricades, said the new order “finally lifts the barrier that made her commute a nightmare.”
The next step is a compliance report due Tuesday; the court will review the findings and determine if further action is necessary.