Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Delhi High Court Questions Blanket Ban on Jantar Mantar Protest
A group called the Kshatriya Karni Sena wanted to hold a protest in Delhi.
The protest was about caste-based reservations and university rules meant to address discrimination.
Police first allowed the protest but later cancelled the permission because they feared too many people might attend.
A Delhi High Court judge asked why the police could not allow the protest with safety rules.
The police said Jantar Mantar is a sensitive place and large crowds can affect the central government.
The court also asked whether the group could protest somewhere else.
The university rules would create committees, helplines and monitoring teams for discrimination complaints.
The Supreme Court has temporarily stopped those rules, saying some parts could be vague and misused.
The Delhi High Court questioned the police’s withdrawal of permission for a September 20 protest at Jantar Mantar.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said authorities could impose conditions rather than entirely deny permission based on crowd concerns.
The Delhi Police called Jantar Mantar a sensitive area and said large gatherings affect the central government.
The police said social-media attention created fears that attendance would exceed the approved limit and offered to consider another venue.
The protest opposes caste-based reservations and UGC equity regulations that the Supreme Court stayed after finding them potentially vague and open to misuse.
- Who
- The Delhi High Court, Delhi Police and the Kshatriya Karni Sena.
- What
- The court questioned the police’s withdrawal of permission for an anti-reservation protest.
- When
- The court hearing took place on a Thursday; the proposed protest date was September 20.
- Where
- The dispute concerns a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
- Why
- Police feared the gathering would exceed the permitted size and affect a sensitive central-government area.
Protest Organisers and Petitioners
Delhi Police
Permission for the protest
Protest Organisers and Petitioners
The organisers challenged the refusal and argued for permission to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar against reservations and the UGC regulations.
Delhi Police
Police withdrew permission because they feared attendance would exceed the permitted number and said other groups had also been refused.
Managing crowd risks
Protest Organisers and Petitioners
The court indicated that authorities could allow the protest for a limited time subject to restrictions and conditions.
Delhi Police
Police said Jantar Mantar is a sensitive area and that large gatherings can affect the entire central government.
UGC equity regulations
Protest Organisers and Petitioners
The protesters said the regulations were biased against general-category students because they lacked safeguards against false complaints.
Delhi Police
The regulations require measures such as committees, helplines and monitoring teams to address discrimination, particularly against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes; the Supreme Court has stayed them.
- Protest organiser
- Kshatriya Karni Sena, also referred to as Karni Sena
- Proposed protest date
- September 20
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar, Delhi
- Police action
- Permission granted earlier was withdrawn because police apprehended that a larger crowd would attend
- Court’s position
- The police could impose restrictions or conditions instead of imposing a complete ban
- UGC regulations
- The 2026 regulations require special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to address discrimination complaints
- Supreme Court action
- The rules were stayed on January 29 after the court called their provisions prima facie vague and capable of misuse