The Delhi High Court on Thursday, 15 October agreed to hear an urgent plea seeking to restrain the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from holding a proposed protest at Central Park, Connaught Place, on 16 October. The petitioner — a street vendor at Palika Bazar — contended that the demonstration could disrupt public life and cause significant financial losses to local traders during the Dussehra weekend.

How the matter came before court

The plea was mentioned before Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Nitin W. Sambre by senior advocate Sacchin Puri, who sought urgent interim intervention to prevent the gathering in the heart of New Delhi. Puri submitted that the protest risked severe traffic congestion and a near-total shutdown of commercial activity across Connaught Place, particularly given the timing of the Dussehra holiday weekend.

The High Court took note of the submissions but observed that the Supreme Court was already seized of related matters. It directed Puri to appear at 2:30 pm with details of those proceedings and copies of any orders passed by the apex court on the same day.

Who filed the petition and what it seeks

The petition has been filed by Anil Kumar Gupta, a street vendor at Palika Bazar in Connaught Place. Gupta has sought directions restraining the CJP from organising any agitation, demonstration, march, or gathering at Central Park or at any other location not designated as an official protest venue. The petition also requests a broader prohibition on protests across Central Delhi, including Connaught Place, to prevent disruption to public life and commercial activity in the area.

The protest and its background

The proposed demonstration was announced by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who called on supporters to gather at Central Park at 5 pm on Friday to wave the national flag in protest against the arrest of the party's co-conveners, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. In a video message posted on social media platform X on Wednesday, Dipke described the proposed gathering as 'Lehra do Tiranga', asserting that waving the national flag was not a crime.

Das and Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody on Wednesday in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. A third CJP leader, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond. All three were placed under preventive arrest over allegations of trespassing at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site. They were booked for alleged trespassing, violation of bond conditions, and obstruction of public servants in the discharge of their duties.

The wider legal context

The case sits at the intersection of two competing rights: the right of traders and citizens to an unobstructed public space, and the right of political actors to peaceful protest. Notably, Jantar Mantar — historically the designated protest site in central Delhi — has been de-notified, effectively removing a key outlet for demonstrations. This is not the first time courts have been approached ahead of planned gatherings in Connaught Place, but the involvement of the Supreme Court in parallel proceedings adds an unusual dimension to Thursday's hearing.

The High Court's response later in the day, along with any apex court direction, is expected to determine whether the 16 October protest proceeds as planned.