Kapil Sibal stood before a packed press conference on Saturday, declaring his disbelief that any court could offer relief in the current climate, and insisting that only the Supreme Court could rescue the Constitution.
The protest, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party, aimed to force Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Police arrested CJP leaders at Delhi’s airport as they arrived from Mumbai, and thousands of would‑be demonstrators were detained while attempting to march toward Jantar Mantar on the day of the demonstration.
In a hearing on the urgent request, the Supreme Court said a full shutdown of the city was untenable but allowed certain restrictions. The number of metro stations slated for closure fell from 57 to 45, yet a 10‑hour ban on train arrivals to New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations was maintained.
Among those detained was a 25‑year‑old student from Delhi who tried to cross the airport boundary, illustrating how the crackdown has hit ordinary citizens.
The court will now decide on the legality of the remaining restrictions in its next session, while Delhi Police are instructed to enforce the 10‑hour train ban and continue monitoring the protest route.