Delhi voter-roll protest: CJP leaders detained again at Jantar Mantar

Summary: Delhi Police on October 10 blocked a youth-led protest planned to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. Reuters and AP reported that thousands of people were detained.

• The protest was planned at Jantar Mantar.
• Police said permission was denied because the application arrived late, according to AP.
• A Home Ministry official told Reuters that more than 2,000 people were detained in Delhi.
• Mobile internet was restricted in the central business district, while access to several metro stations, markets and roads was disrupted.

Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms members Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving in Delhi, both news organisations reported.

Protesters and opposition parties allege that eligible voters are being wrongly removed. The Election Commission and the Union government reject allegations of voter-roll manipulation. The Commission has said eligible people omitted from the draft rolls can apply to re-enrol.

Update — October 10 night

The Supreme Court will hold a special sitting on Sunday, October 11, to hear a contempt plea alleging that closures of Delhi Metro stations and cancellation of train services breached its October 9 order. The Court’s official cause list names Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana for the bench.

These are allegations made by the petitioner. The Court has not yet ruled on the plea.

Further update — Delhi court

A Delhi court on October 10 rejected an application by CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh seeking registration of an FIR against police personnel over alleged wrongful restraint and confinement before the protest. LiveLaw and The Times of India reported that the court found the application lacked required details, including the identity of a specific police officer.

October 11 morning update — leaders released

An executive magistrate released CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Sunday morning, October 11. They had been produced before the magistrate after being placed under preventive detention. Reuters reported, citing CJP legal head Ratna Singh, that the condition was no breach of peace for one year.

Reuters and The Indian Express also reported that Dhruv Rathee was released after midnight. Metro stations reopened and mobile internet service returned, while police deployments continued in Delhi amid calls for a second day of protests.

October 11 Supreme Court directions

At a special Sunday hearing, a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued fresh interim directions. It said peaceful, unarmed assemblies outside areas where Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is in force must not be detained except through the procedure established by law.

• Metro and rail services must operate normally unless restrictions are required for public order under Article 19(2) of the Constitution.
• People must be allowed to move freely, subject to traffic rules, and the need for barricades must be reviewed immediately.
• Internet services should remain undisturbed, while lawful powers under the Information Technology Act remain available to the authorities.

The bench also recorded the Centre’s assurance that access to courts and the work of lawyers and journalists would not be obstructed. LiveLaw, Bar & Bench and The Indian Express independently reported the court proceedings.

October 12 afternoon update — march toward Supreme Court

Congress-led opposition parties and supporters marched toward the Supreme Court on Monday, October 12, protesting the voter-roll revision and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Reuters reported that hundreds joined the march; Associated Press reported that opposition lawmakers and supporters sought to submit a petition at the Court.

Reuters and AP reported that six Delhi Metro stations were closed, traffic restrictions were imposed on key roads and large numbers of police were deployed.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined an administrative meeting requested by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. The New Indian Express reported that his written response said discussing matters already pending before the Court would be incompatible with judicial propriety and the separation of powers. He said the judicial route remained open.

Clarification: Claims that voter names were removed for political reasons are allegations made by protesters and opposition parties. The Election Commission and BJP deny those allegations.

October 12 night update — journalists detained

Reuters reported that nearly three dozen journalists covering the protests were detained for periods of up to several hours on October 10 and 11. Some said they were taken away despite showing press identification.

• The Indian Express said Shashwat, Siya and Vijay Kumar of its Hindi team were held for about 45 minutes on October 11.
• Scroll documented detentions involving its reporters and journalists from several other organisations in Delhi and Pune.
• Reuters reported that journalist organisations criticised the action and sought an investigation and a formal apology.
• Delhi Police said in a video that some protesters had posed as journalists and interfered with police work. Police did not immediately answer Reuters’ questions about the number of journalists detained and the reasons.

The journalists were later released. The allegations about their treatment and the police explanation remain matters requiring scrutiny.