SC To Hear Contempt Plea Over Delhi Metro Curbs Today
According to the cause list uploaded on the Supreme Court website, a bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana will hear the petition on October 11.
New Delhi:The Supreme Court will hold a special hearing on Sunday on a contempt petition alleging that the Centre, Delhi Police and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) violated its October 9 directions against a complete shutdown of Metro and train services during Saturday's protests in the national capital.
According to the cause list uploaded on the Supreme Court website, a bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana will hear the petition on October 11.
The plea, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, has named Union home secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and DMRC chairperson D. Thara as respondents.
It alleged that the authorities had deliberately disregarded the court's directions by continuing restrictions on Metro services, cancelling trains and failing to issue clear public advisories on transport arrangements.
The petition referred to the Supreme Court's October 9 order directing the Centre to ensure that there was no "complete prohibition" on Metro and train services to Delhi during the protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and student organisations.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana had observed that although law enforcement agencies could take measures to regulate unruly movement, public transport services could not be brought to a complete halt.
The court had also said that citizens should not be subjected to unnecessary harassment because of security restrictions.
The contempt petition alleged that the authorities had continued a blanket shutdown across several transport corridors despite the judicial directions.
It claimed that the restrictions had disrupted normal life in Delhi and inconvenienced commuters, including those travelling for essential purposes.
The petitioner said he had been personally affected by the closure of Metro stations and entry and exit gates.
The plea contended that the authorities could impose regulatory measures to manage crowds but could not resort to preventive closures in violation of the court's order.
Terming the alleged violations deliberate, the petitioner sought urgent intervention and initiation of contempt proceedings against the officials concerned.
The protests were organised against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and the revision of electoral rolls.
