A contempt petition has been filed before the Supreme Court alleging that authorities violated its 9 October order directing that Metro and railway services in New Delhi must not be completely suspended ahead of a proposed protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar. The petition was filed on 10 October by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi.

Who Has Been Named in the Petition

The contempt plea seeks initiation of proceedings against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Chairperson D. Thara for allegedly failing to comply with the Supreme Court's directions. The petitioner contends that the apex court's order was categorical and left no room for a blanket suspension of services.

What the Petitioner Alleged

Tripathi alleged that despite the court's explicit direction, entry and exit gates at several Metro stations remained shut and train services continued to be cancelled or curtailed on the night of 9 October. According to the plea, the DMRC had announced the closure of entry and exit gates at 45 Metro stations across the capital.

The petitioner stated that he personally visited GTB Nagar and Vishwavidyalaya Metro stations at around 9:30 pm and found their entry gates locked, adding that he recorded the closed gates on video. He also claimed to have visited Jantar Mantar at around 8:30 pm, where only police and paramilitary personnel were present and no protesters had gathered. The plea further alleged that authorities failed to adequately publicise revised travel arrangements, compounding disruption to public life.

What the Supreme Court Had Directed

The contempt petition stems from an order passed on Friday, 9 October, by a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana. The bench directed that there should be no complete stoppage of Metro train services ahead of the proposed demonstration.

The court drew a clear distinction between a blanket prohibition on train movement and regulated operations, stressing that preventive measures must be proportionate to any anticipated law-and-order situation. 'In terms of that assurance, we make it clear that there shall be no complete prohibition on the movement of Metro trains,' the court said, recording an assurance by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that authorities would reconsider the curbs and allow services to run in a regulated manner.

The bench had also directed the DMRC, relevant railway authorities, and Delhi Police (Traffic) to file compliance reports within four days, and asked that a traffic advisory be issued to minimise hardship to commuters.

Background: Protest and Original Restrictions

The restrictions were imposed in anticipation of a demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is seeking accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police denied permission for the protest, citing concerns over public safety, traffic regulation, and law and order, and noting that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in the New Delhi area.

The original restrictions had included a reduction in Metro train frequency through 57 stations and closure of entry and exit gates from 9 pm on 9 October, continuing through 10 October until the situation normalised. The Supreme Court had also asked competent authorities to consider designating alternative protest sites equipped with basic amenities to facilitate lawful demonstrations.

What Happens Next

The contempt petition is now before the Supreme Court, which will determine whether the alleged non-compliance warrants formal proceedings against the named officials. With compliance reports from the DMRC, railway authorities, and Delhi Police due within four days of the original order, the court's response to the contempt plea is expected to set an important precedent on how security-driven transport curbs must be calibrated against judicial directives.