Delhi Police on Monday, October 12, 2026, de-notified Jantar Mantar in New Delhi as an officially designated site for protests and demonstrations, replacing it with three alternative venues: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi. The decision follows recommendations from a committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to identify suitable locations where citizens can exercise their right to protest.
Announced amid demonstrations and planned protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, the move has renewed questions about balancing public order with democratic freedoms. While authorities have pointed to the need for appropriate protest venues, concerns remain over whether relocating demonstrations could make it harder for citizens to bring their demands to the attention of decision-makers.
Three Alternative Venues Identified
According to the order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, Jantar Mantar has been removed from the list of designated protest venues following the committee’s recommendations. The three newly designated locations are Ramlila Ground in central Delhi, Burari Ground in north Delhi and CBD Ground in East Delhi. The committee was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine alternative locations for public demonstrations. The order states: “Based on the Committee’s recommendations, Jantar Mantar as a protest venue has been de-notified.
Three new venues viz Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, East Delhi have been designated as new venues for organizing protest/demonstrations.” The change marks a significant shift in Delhi’s arrangements for public dissent, as Jantar Mantar has served as a prominent gathering point for political parties, civil society groups, activists and citizens raising public-interest concerns. The practical implications will depend on how permissions are handled at the new sites, including access for demonstrators, crowd management and the facilities available to people participating in peaceful gatherings.
Supreme Court’s Observations
The decision comes days after the Supreme Court called for a rethink of Delhi’s arrangements for peaceful demonstrations. On October 9, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked authorities to consider an alternative venue with adequate facilities, including toilets, drinking water and medical assistance. The court stressed that citizens should be able to exercise their democratic rights without compromising public safety, emergency access or the interests of other residents.
The latest change also follows political tensions surrounding the proposed October 10 demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other groups demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR electoral roll revision. CJP leaders, including founder Abhijeet Dipke, were detained after arriving in Delhi and were subsequently released. The party has criticised restrictions on its planned protest. Its leader Ashutosh Ranka reacted sarcastically to Jantar Mantar’s removal, questioning where citizens would be allowed to demonstrate if prominent protest sites were withdrawn. The allegations concerning electoral roll manipulation remain contested, with the Election Commission defending the revision process.
Jantar Mantar has historically been a focal point for demonstrations on political, social and public-interest issues. However, protests in central Delhi have also raised concerns about traffic disruption, public convenience and security arrangements. The Supreme Court’s recent observations reflect the need to address these concerns proportionately rather than impose blanket restrictions that inconvenience ordinary commuters. Whether the three newly designated venues offer comparable visibility, accessibility and facilities will be important in assessing the impact of the decision.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Peaceful protest is an essential part of a functioning democracy, allowing citizens to question authority, demand accountability and bring neglected issues into public discussion. At the same time, public demonstrations must consider the safety, mobility and everyday needs of other residents. Designating alternative venues can be constructive if they genuinely improve facilities and crowd management, but changing locations should not make dissent less accessible or less effective.
Authorities must ensure transparent permission procedures, adequate transport links, essential amenities and fair treatment of all groups, irrespective of their political views. The objective should be to facilitate peaceful assembly while protecting public order, not to create unnecessary barriers between citizens and the institutions they seek to question. Do you think moving protests away from Jantar Mantar can improve public safety while protecting citizens’ democratic rights, or could it make peaceful dissent harder?
Also Read: ‘Tell Us The Date And Time’: CJP Gives Delhi Police 24-Hour Ultimatum For Jantar Mantar Protest
