Delhi HC Pulls Up CJP Leaders Over Jantar Mantar Stir, Questions Maintainability
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The Delhi High Court commenced a crucial hearing concerning a plea filed by Cockroach Janta Party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das challenging their judicial custody orders issued by the Special Executive Magistrate court. During the proceedings, the High Court questioned the leaders for entering Jantar Mantar and breaking barricades after the protest site was de-notified, noting that they had previously executed a peace bond. Drawing comparisons to European student demonstrations that deteriorated into arson and looting, the court observed that barricades and police permissions serve to maintain public order and prevent external elements from hijacking demonstrations. The bench led by Justice Subramanian Prasad raised queries regarding the maintainability of moving the High Court directly instead of awaiting the Special Executive Magistrate court's scheduled order or approaching the district court. Counsel for the leaders submitted that sureties had been presented and raised procedural issues regarding the preventive custody orders under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
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