All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba was directed to be released on probation of good conduct for one year by a Delhi court on Saturday, 6 June, following her conviction in a criminal case stemming from a protest that demanded implementation of women's reservation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Rouse Avenue Court also ordered her to furnish a bail bond of ₹1 lakh.

The Conviction and Lamba's Response

Lamba was convicted last month in connection with a demonstration held on 29 July 2024 at Jantar Mantar, organised by the Mahila Congress to press for the women's quota in Parliament. Reacting to Saturday's order, the Congress leader said she would challenge her conviction before the Sessions Court.

'I have indeed been convicted by the Rouse Avenue Court, and I will certainly challenge that conviction through my lawyers. This fight for women's rights will continue,' Lamba said.

What the Prosecution Alleged

The case originated from an FIR registered by the Delhi Police alleging that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in the Parliament Street sub-division at the time of the protest — even though Jantar Mantar itself was an exempted area for demonstrations. According to the prosecution, Lamba, the main speaker at the protest, along with other demonstrators moved beyond the permitted protest site towards Tolstoy Road, raised slogans, and attempted to march towards Parliament despite repeated police warnings.

Video footage played in open court during the charge-framing stage allegedly showed Lamba pushing police personnel, instigating protesters to jump barricades, and leading demonstrators beyond the permissible protest zone.

Charges and Earlier Court Proceedings

The trial court held that a prima facie case was made out against Lamba under Sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant), 221 (obstructing a public servant), 223(a) (disobedience to a promulgated order), and 285 (danger or obstruction in a public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Lamba's plea for discharge was rejected in December 2024, with the court noting that prosecution material must be accepted as true at the charge-framing stage. Her subsequent revision plea was dismissed in February 2025 by Additional Sessions Judge Dig Vinay Singh, who found no 'patent illegality, perversity or jurisdictional error' in the Magistrate's order. The Sessions Court had also rejected the argument that the absence of a medico-legal certificate created an 'evidentiary vacuum', holding that actual physical injury is not mandatory for offences relating to criminal force.

What Happens Next

Lamba has confirmed she will file a challenge before the Sessions Court. The case has drawn attention to the intersection of protest rights, police jurisdiction, and women's political representation — issues that remain live as the women's reservation law, passed in 2023, awaits delimitation before it can take effect. The outcome of her appeal could have broader implications for how courts assess political demonstrations that stray beyond designated zones.