The Supreme Court will hold a special hearing tomorrow, Sunday, to consider two petitions filed in the wake of police actions and metro shutdowns during the CJP protests in Delhi. The first, a contempt petition, accuses the Union Home Secretary, Delhi Police Commissioner and DMRC chairperson of ignoring the court’s October 9 directive; the second, a habeas‑corpus petition, seeks the release of detained opposition figures and media personnel.
On Oct. 9, the bench directed the Centre to ensure that metro and train services connecting Delhi were not completely suspended on Oct. 10 because of the planned demonstrations. The court warned that a blanket halt would unduly harass citizens. The order followed earlier Friday hearings where the court observed that authorities could not shut down all public transport in response to a protest.
Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi filed the contempt petition, naming Govind Mohan, Anurag Kumar and D Thara as respondents. He argues that the authorities deliberately disobeyed the court’s order, amounting to a ‘brutal assault’ on fundamental rights.
Senior lawyer and Trinamool Congress MP Maneka Guruswamy filed the habeas‑corpus petition, listing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Saket Gokhale, Dola Sen and Pratima Mondal among those whose detentions it challenges. The petition claims that preventive detention has been used to suppress peaceful protest. A Delhi Metro employee, who had to pick up his two‑year‑old daughter after the shutdown, said the disruptions added to his already hectic commute.
Delhi Police say the detentions were necessary to maintain public order, while opposition leaders argue they were politically motivated. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, will deliberate and issue orders after the hearing.
The hearing begins at 10 a.m. and will determine whether the authorities face contempt proceedings and whether the detained leaders can be released.