Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Supreme Court to Hear Contempt Pleas Over Delhi Protest
The Supreme Court will hear petitions about what happened during a protest in Delhi.
The protesters wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
One petition says officials restricted trains and metro services despite a court direction against completely stopping them.
Reports say 57 metro stations were initially set to close, but the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation later changed its plan so 45 would remain closed.
Another petition says Opposition leaders and other protesters were detained.
It argues that this stopped people from exercising their right to peaceful protest.
The court said officials could manage unruly movement but should not harass citizens or bring everything to a halt.
The hearing is scheduled for Sunday.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear contempt pleas on Sunday over transport restrictions and the detention of protest leaders in Delhi.
One plea alleges senior officials violated the court’s October 9 direction against completely prohibiting metro and train services to Delhi on October 10.
The reports say 57 metro stations were initially set to close; after the court’s order, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation revised its plan to keep 45 stations closed.
Another petition challenges the preventive detention of Opposition leaders, including four former chief ministers, and other protesters heading toward Jantar Mantar.
The protest, called by the Cockroach Janata Party and student organisations, sought Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged Election Commission irregularities.
- Who
- The Supreme Court will hear petitions concerning government and Delhi authorities; petitioners include advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi and Senior Advocate and TMC Rajya Sabha MP Menaka Guruswamy.
- What
- Petitions seek contempt proceedings over transport restrictions and challenge the preventive detention of Opposition leaders and protesters.
- When
- The hearing is scheduled for Sunday; the court’s cited direction was issued on October 9 for services on October 10.
- Where
- Delhi, India.
- Why
- The petitions allege that authorities restricted transport and detained protesters during a demonstration seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Petitioners’ allegations
Court’s stated position
Transport restrictions
Petitioners’ allegations
The contempt petition alleges that restrictions on metro and train services disregarded the court’s direction and infringed citizens’ fundamental rights.
Court’s stated position
The court said authorities could restrict unruly movement, but should take corrective steps, avoid unduly harassing citizens and not bring everything to a halt.
Detention of protesters
Petitioners’ allegations
Menaka Guruswamy’s petition argues that detaining Opposition leaders and protesters suppressed the fundamental right to peaceful protest.
Court’s stated position
The reports do not provide a response from authorities to this specific allegation.
- Hearing bench
- Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana are scheduled to hear the petitions.
- Earlier court direction
- On October 9, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to ensure there was no complete prohibition of metro and train services to Delhi on October 10.
- Metro station closures
- One report says 57 stations were initially set to close; the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation revised its plan after the court’s order, reducing the number to 45.
- Contempt plea
- Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi filed a petition through advocate Chand Qureshi.
- Respondents named
- The plea names Union home secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chairperson D. Thara.
- Detention challenge
- A petition by Menaka Guruswamy challenges the detention of Opposition leaders, including four former chief ministers, and other protesters.
- Protest
- The Cockroach Janata Party and student organisations called the protest seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
