Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Supreme Court to Hear Metro Closure and Protest Detention Petitions
The Supreme Court will hear two cases about protests in Delhi.
One case says authorities did not follow the court’s order about keeping transport services running.
The court had said services should not be completely stopped during the planned protests.
Another case challenges the detention of opposition leaders and other people.
It asks the court to review whether those detentions were lawful and to release some named leaders.
The petition also raises concerns about lawyers and journalists being detained.
These are claims made in petitions, and the court is scheduled to hear them on Sunday.
The Supreme Court scheduled a special hearing for Sunday on petitions concerning Delhi Metro restrictions and protest-related detentions.
One petition seeks contempt proceedings, alleging authorities disobeyed the court’s October 9 direction against completely suspending transport services to Delhi.
The court had directed the Centre to ensure metro and train services into Delhi were not completely suspended during the planned October 10 demonstrations.
A habeas corpus petition challenges preventive detentions of opposition leaders, lawyers and journalists and seeks the release of named Trinamool Congress leaders.
The petitioners argue the transport restrictions and detentions infringed court orders and fundamental rights; the allegations remain claims for the court to consider.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, petitioners including advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi and Maneka Guruswamy, and government and police authorities named in the petitions.
- What
- The court is scheduled to hear petitions over alleged non-compliance with a transport-services order and the preventive detention of protesters and opposition leaders.
- When
- Sunday; the transport order referenced in the contempt petition was issued October 9, ahead of protests planned for October 10.
- Where
- Delhi, India.
- Why
- The petitions allege that authorities restricted transport despite the court’s direction and detained people unlawfully during protests.
Petitioners’ claims
Authorities’ position
Metro and train restrictions
Petitioners’ claims
The contempt petition alleges authorities deliberately disobeyed the October 9 order by continuing station closures and service restrictions.
Authorities’ position
The articles do not provide a response from the government, police or Delhi Metro to this allegation.
Preventive detention
Petitioners’ claims
The habeas corpus petition argues the detentions were illegal and that preventive detention cannot be used to suppress peaceful protest.
Authorities’ position
The articles do not provide the authorities’ response or their legal justification for the detentions.
- Hearing
- Special Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Sunday
- Bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
- Transport order
- The October 9 direction said metro and train services connecting Delhi should not be completely suspended for the planned protests
- Contempt petitioner
- Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi
- Detention petition
- Habeas corpus petition filed by Maneka Guruswamy
- Named leaders in release request
- Mamata Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, Saket Gokhale, Dola Sen and Pratima Mondal
- Protest context
- The CJP and student organisations called demonstrations over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's functioning