Delhi Police on Friday, 2 October imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across the New Delhi district ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The crackdown, which restricts gatherings of five or more people without prior written permission, comes as student and youth organisations announced their intent to march despite being denied police permission — on Gandhi Jayanti.

What the Order Restricts

The prohibitory order bars unauthorised sit-ins, processions, demonstrations, picketing, and dharnas across New Delhi district. The carrying of firearms, weapons, lathis, sticks, swords, brickbats and other potentially dangerous objects has also been prohibited. Raising slogans and delivering speeches as part of unauthorised gatherings are explicitly banned under the order.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Sharma confirmed the orders and appealed for compliance. 'Section 163 is in force in New Delhi. I would like to inform everyone that any kind of unauthorised sit-in or protest is not allowed here. Please follow the law, act lawfully and cooperate with the police,' Sharma told reporters.

Metro Services Disrupted Across Central Delhi

The Delhi Metro has curtailed entry and exit operations at several key stations until further notice, significantly disrupting commutes across central Delhi. Stations affected include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, and New Delhi.

Interchange facilities will continue to be available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi, and Central Secretariat stations. Security personnel and water cannons have been deployed at Jantar Mantar.

Who Is Protesting and Why

The protest has been announced by the All India Students' Association (AISA), the Students' Federation of India (SFI), and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). The groups are demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, citing concerns over the Election Commission of India's handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. An estimated 1,500 people are expected to participate, according to a member of one of the organisations.

Delhi Police have not granted permission for the proposed march. Despite this, the organisations have indicated they intend to proceed with the mobilisation. Notably, the protest is timed to coincide with Gandhi Jayanti, a symbolically charged choice that historically amplifies civil demonstrations in India.

Mumbai Parallel: 'Jail Bharo' Planned at Shivaji Park

In a parallel development, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, announced a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' at Mumbai's Shivaji Park on 2 October at 4 pm. Dipke has claimed that Mumbai Police denied permission for the group's earlier proposed protest against CEC Kumar.

Mumbai Police, however, stated it was 'not empowered to grant permission' for a gathering at Shivaji Park, citing a 2013 Bombay High Court order, and noted that the area falls within a designated silence zone.

Broader Context

The protests reflect a growing chorus of criticism from activist and student circles over the Election Commission's conduct in the ongoing SIR exercise, which critics argue has raised questions about electoral roll accuracy. This is not the first time Jantar Mantar has been the focal point of mobilisation against an election body official, but the simultaneous invocation of Gandhi Jayanti and the scale of coordinated action across Delhi and Mumbai gives this episode added political weight. How authorities manage the situation through the day will be closely watched.