Supreme Court Chair Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, in a special hearing on Sunday, demanded that the Centre explain the circumstances that led to the detentions of protestors during the Cockroach Janta Party’s anti‑CEC rally on Saturday, 10 October, and requested a justification for the lockdown of 45 out of 303 Delhi Metro stations.
The protest, aimed at critiquing the government’s expenditure committee, saw thousands of demonstrators in the capital, but the authorities shuttered entry and exit points at several red‑flagged stations, a move that sparked legal challenges.
The court instructed the Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, to ensure that the metro operates on its regular schedule and that internet services remain uninterrupted, warning that any further restrictions could amount to contempt of court.
In a bid to keep the judicial process transparent, the bench will hear all parties, grant hearings to the lawyers involved, and seek a written reply from the Ministry of Urban Development by the next working day.
The next hearing is slated for Monday, when the court will review the Centre’s response and decide whether to issue an order restoring full metro access or impose additional safeguards.