Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Delhi Police Approves Reservation Protest at Ramlila Ground After Denial
Reservation Hatao Andolan wanted to hold a protest about India’s reservation system.
It first announced a gathering at Jantar Mantar on August 21.
Delhi Police said that gathering had not been approved.
Police instead allowed a peaceful protest at Ramlila Ground, also called Ramlila Maidan.
The permission was for up to 500 people.
It lasted only until 4 pm on August 21.
Protesters had to follow police instructions and could not hold a procession.
The campaign said changing the venue and limiting attendance made it harder to share its demands.
Some reports said people still gathered at Jantar Mantar.
Delhi Police issued an NOC for Reservation Hatao Andolan to hold a peaceful protest at Ramlila Ground on August 21.
The permission allows a maximum of 500 people and remains valid until 4 pm.
Police said no permission had been granted for the campaign’s proposed Jantar Mantar protest, procession or assembly.
The NOC bars processions and activity outside the approved arrangements and can be revoked for violations.
The campaign criticised the venue change and attendance limit, while reports said some protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar.
- Who
- The Reservation Hatao Andolan and Delhi Police.
- What
- Police approved a limited protest at Ramlila Ground while denying that the proposed Jantar Mantar demonstration had been authorised.
- When
- The NOC was issued on Friday, August 21, and was valid until 4 pm; the Jantar Mantar clarification was issued on Thursday, August 20.
- Where
- The approved protest was at Ramlila Ground, also called Ramlila Maidan, while Jantar Mantar was the proposed but unapproved venue.
- Why
- The campaign sought changes to India’s caste-based reservation system in education and government employment.
Reservation Hatao Andolan
Delhi Police
Venue and attendance limit
Reservation Hatao Andolan
The campaign said it had sought permission for Jantar Mantar nearly a month earlier and criticised shifting the protest to Ramlila Maidan with a 500-person cap.
Delhi Police
Police said no permission had been granted for a Jantar Mantar protest and issued an NOC for a gathering of up to 500 people at Ramlila Ground.
Ability to express demands
Reservation Hatao Andolan
The campaign argued that changing the venue and restricting attendance limited protesters’ ability to voice their demands.
Delhi Police
Police permitted a peaceful gathering subject to law-and-order conditions, including a ban on processions and activity outside the approved arrangements.
Reservation policy
Reservation Hatao Andolan
The campaign advocates replacing caste-based reservation with measures based on factors including economic condition, disability, orphan status or martyr-family status.
Delhi Police
The police statements addressed protest permissions and conditions rather than the merits of the campaign’s reservation-policy demands.
- Organizer
- Reservation Hatao Andolan
- Approved venue
- Ramlila Ground, also called Ramlila Maidan
- Maximum attendance
- 500 people
- Permission period
- Until 4 pm on August 21
- Proposed venue
- Jantar Mantar; police said no permission was granted
- Police conditions
- No procession or activity outside the permitted arrangements; organisers had to follow police instructions
- Campaign criticism
- The organisers questioned the venue change and the 500-person limit
