Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site: Delhi High Court agrees to hear challenges
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- : The Delhi High Court agreed to hear a plea against the closure and a plea for a probe into alleged assaults; the bench said the Supreme Court has sought Union affidavits
Pleas against the closure and over alleged assaults on protesters are before the Delhi High Court, and its bench says the Supreme Court has asked the Union for affidavits. What the court ordered is still not reported.
Original report
The Delhi High Court agreed on 12 October 2026 to hear a plea against the "closure" of Jantar Mantar as a protest site, Onmanorama and The Pioneer reported (Onmanorama, 2026; Daily Pioneer, 2026). That came a day after Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar's standing order denotified the site, PTI reported (PTI, 2026).
The bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma noted that the Supreme Court is also examining the issue and has asked the Union government to file affidavits (Onmanorama, 2026). At stake is whether Delhi's protest address since 1993 stays shut, with protests pointed to three grounds up to 21 km away (The Tribune, 2026). See how every outlet covered it
The denotification is now before two courts
"The Supreme Court is equally seized of the matter," Acting Chief Justice Sambre said, Onmanorama and The Pioneer reported (Onmanorama, 2026; Daily Pioneer, 2026).
- The closure plea: a lawyer argued that peaceful protests were being curtailed with no alternative venue. Delhi Police named Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground (Onmanorama, 2026; Daily Pioneer, 2026).
- The assault plea: the bench also agreed to hear NSUI president Vinod Jakhar's plea for an independent probe into alleged assaults on protesters on 10 October (Daily Pioneer, 2026).
- The Youth Congress plea: IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib is challenging Delhi Police's 1 October refusal of permission to protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Additional Solicitor General sought time, LawChakra reported (LawChakra, 2026).
- The police position: Delhi Police told the High Court the site is denotified, according to an India Today headline on 13 October (India Today, 2026).
What the court did at the hearing is the gap, and outlets do not even agree on its date.
Outlets give different hearing dates
Onmanorama said the High Court would hear the plea on 13 October; The Pioneer said 14 October (Onmanorama, 2026; Daily Pioneer, 2026). We have not read any report of what the court ordered.
The pleas test an order that rewrote the rules for protest in the capital.
What the denotification order does
The 11 October order rests on a Ministry of Home Affairs committee set up "to examine alternative proper venues". It partly modifies Standing Order L&O/48/22 of 28 April 2022 (PTI, 2026). A revised procedure for protests at the new venues will be issued separately, with no date given (PTI, 2026).
The three grounds are Ramlila, about 4 km from Jantar Mantar, CBD Ground, 12 to 13 km, and Burari Ground, about 21 km (The Tribune, 2026). Ramlila costs Rs 1.21 lakh for one day with deposit and taxes, and is free only from 29 to 31 December, for 150 people (The Tribune, 2026).
The right to protest comes from Article 19(1)(a) and (b) of the Constitution, which allow reasonable restrictions (SabrangIndia, 2018). That is the ground the courts are now asked to weigh.
How Jantar Mantar became Delhi's protest address
The key dates, from The Tribune, Hindustan Times, SabrangIndia, PTI and Onmanorama (The Tribune, 2026; Hindustan Times, 2026; SabrangIndia, 2018):
- 1993: protests at Boat Club are restricted and Jantar Mantar becomes the venue.
- October 2017: the National Green Tribunal bans protests at Jantar Mantar.
- July 2018: the Supreme Court rules out a "complete ban" and asks the Centre for guidelines (SabrangIndia, 2018).
- 11 October 2026: Delhi Police denotify the site (PTI, 2026).
- 12 October 2026: the Delhi High Court agrees to hear the closure plea (Onmanorama, 2026).
How the coverage split
- Onmanorama and The Pioneer led on the High Court agreeing to hear the plea (Onmanorama, 2026; Daily Pioneer, 2026).
- LawChakra led on the Youth Congress plea and the government seeking time (LawChakra, 2026).
- India Today's headline led on the police telling the court the site is denotified (India Today, 2026).
- Before the court challenge, The Tribune called the site a "dissent hub" and Hindustan Times told its history as "Mini-India" (The Tribune, 2026; Hindustan Times, 2026).
What we know
- The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear a plea against the closure and a plea for a probe into alleged assaults on 10 October (Onmanorama, 2026; Daily Pioneer, 2026).
- The Supreme Court is examining the issue and has asked the Union for affidavits, the High Court bench said (Onmanorama, 2026).
- Protests are pointed to three grounds up to 21 km away (The Tribune, 2026).
What we don't know yet
- What the High Court ordered at its hearing.
- The details and date of the Supreme Court matter, and the Union's deadline for its affidavits.
- Whether protest at Jantar Mantar is now illegal, and when the revised procedure will be issued.
Questions people are asking
Can a court reverse the Jantar Mantar denotification?
Not yet known. The Delhi High Court is hearing pleas and the Supreme Court has asked the Union for affidavits; no source we read states a view on the outcome (Onmanorama, 2026).
Is the Supreme Court hearing the Jantar Mantar case?
Yes. The High Court bench said the Supreme Court is "equally seized" of the matter and has called for Union affidavits (Onmanorama, 2026).
Can people still protest at Jantar Mantar?
Not yet known. No source we read says protests there are banned or allowed, and the revised procedure is still to be issued (PTI, 2026).
What are the three new protest grounds and how far are they?
Ramlila Ground is about 4 km from Jantar Mantar, CBD Ground 12 to 13 km and Burari Ground about 21 km (The Tribune, 2026).
What will it cost to protest at Ramlila Maidan?
Rs 1.21 lakh for one day, including Rs 50,000 rent, a Rs 55,000 refundable deposit and taxes (The Tribune, 2026).
What happens next
The High Court's order on the pleas is awaited, and the Union's affidavits are due in the Supreme Court, with no deadline reported (Onmanorama, 2026). The earliest free dates at Ramlila Maidan are 29 to 31 December 2026 (The Tribune, 2026).
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- Delhi Metro stations closed today: six shut till 4pm for opposition march against CEC
References
- Daily Pioneer (2026) Delhi HC agrees to hear plea against closure of Jantar Mantar as protest site. The Pioneer. Available at: Delhi HC agrees to hear plea against closure of Jantar Mantar as protest site (Accessed: 14 October 2026).
- Hindustan Times (2026) 'Mini-India', a space for all: Jantar Mantar's special place on Delhi's protest map. Hindustan Times, 12 October. Available at: 'Mini-India', a space for all (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- India Today (2026) Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site, Delhi Police tells High Court. India Today, 13 October. Available at: Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site, Delhi Police tells High Court (Accessed: 14 October 2026).
- LawChakra (2026) Delhi High Court To Hear Youth Congress Jantar Mantar Protest Plea Tomorrow, ASG Seeks Time. LawChakra. Available at: Delhi High Court To Hear Youth Congress Jantar Mantar Protest Plea Tomorrow (Accessed: 14 October 2026).
- Onmanorama (2026) Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site; Delhi HC to hear plea tomorrow. Onmanorama, 12 October. Available at: Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site; Delhi HC to hear plea tomorrow (Accessed: 14 October 2026).
- PTI (2026) Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site, police names three new venues. The Hindu BusinessLine, 12 October. Available at: Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site, police names three new venues (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- SabrangIndia (2018) Supreme Court says no 'complete ban' on protests at Jantar Mantar. SabrangIndia, 23 July. Available at: Supreme Court says no 'complete ban' on protests at Jantar Mantar (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
- The Tribune (2026) Dissent hub Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site. The Tribune, 13 October. Available at: Dissent hub Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
How we did this
On 14 October we read the High Court reports from Onmanorama and The Pioneer and compared their hearing dates and details. LawChakra returned an error, so we used its search summary only, and for India Today we read the headline only. We kept the order, distances and costs from our earlier reading of PTI via The Hindu BusinessLine, The Tribune, Hindustan Times and SabrangIndia, and rebuilt the timeline to add the court challenge.
This story was produced, reviewed, edited and verified by the reporter before publication, with AI assistance where required.
Covered by 42 outlets across the spectrum: 29% left, 24% center, 48% right.
Who is covering this story
- Left-leaning (5): The Hindu, The New Indian Express, Sabrang India, The Federal, Daily Pioneer
- Center (8): Hindustan Times, Tribune India, The Hindu BusinessLine, Economic Times, Deccan Herald, Mid-Day, Onmanorama, LawChakra
- Right-leaning (5): Deccan Chronicle, India Today, Times of India, Times Now, Zee News English
Sources
- Delhi High Court to hear plea against closing Jantar Mantar for protests on October 13 — The Hindu (left-leaning) ·
- Delhi HC Agrees to Hear Plea Against Closure of Jantar Mantar as Protest Site — Deccan Chronicle (right-leaning) ·
- Delhi HC to hear pleas on Jantar Mantar closure on October 13 — The New Indian Express (left-leaning) ·
- Delhi High Court hears Jantar Mantar, Kangana Ranaut and PepsiCo pleas — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Jantar Mantar played host to varying degrees of discontent — Hindustan Times (center) ·
- Dissent hub Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site - The Tribune — Tribune India (center) ·
- Supreme Court says no "complete ban" on protests at Jantar Mantar | SabrangIndia — Sabrang India (left-leaning, AI-estimated) ·
- Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site, police names three new venues — The Hindu BusinessLine (center) ·
- Jantar Mantar move challenged in Delhi HC — Economic Times (center) ·
- Plea In Supreme Court Challenges Restrictions On Protests At Jantar Mantar — Deccan Chronicle (right-leaning) ·
- Plea in SC challenges restrictions on protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar — The New Indian Express (left-leaning) ·
- Plea in Supreme Court challenges restrictions on protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar — Deccan Herald (center) ·
- ‘Jantar Mantar belongs to 140cr Indians’: Dipke calls flag-hoisting ban ‘dictatorial’ — Times of India (right-leaning) ·
- Jantar Mantar de-notification challenged in Supreme Court — Mid-Day (center) ·
- Jantar Mantar: Dissent Should Be Given Space — The Federal (left-leaning) ·
- Delhi HC lists PIL on Jantar Mantar protests, seeks Supreme Court plea copy — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site, Delhi Police tells High Court — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Delhi HC to hear plea seeking permission for peaceful protests at Jantar Mantar on October 16 — The New Indian Express (left-leaning) ·
- Plea In SC Against Move To Denotify Jantar Mantar As Designated Protest Site — Times Now (right-leaning) ·
- Supreme Court to hear a plea that de-notifying Jantar Mantar pushes dissent ‘out of sight, out of mind’ — The Hindu (left-leaning) ·
- Indian Youth Congress chief moves Delhi HC against Jantar Mantar’s removal as protest site — Hindustan Times (center) ·
- IYC moves Delhi High Court over Jantar Mantar's removal as protest site — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Jantar Mantar denotified as protest site; Delhi HC to hear plea tomorrow — Onmanorama (center) ·
- Delhi hc youth congress jantar mantar plea tomorrow — LawChakra (center) ·
- Delhi HC agrees to hear plea against closure of Jantar Mantar as protest site — Daily Pioneer (left-leaning) ·
- IYC Protests Near Parliament Street Police Station Over NSUI Worker Assault, Jantar Mantar Ban — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- SC & HC Pleas Challenge Jantar Mantar Denotification As Delhi Gets New Sites — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Plea in SC on Jantar Mantar Stir Site, Opposition Moves Top Court on CEC — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Jantar Mantar permission denied due to CJP protest violence on July 20: Delhi Police to SC — Times of India (right-leaning) ·
- Supreme Court To Hear Opposition Plea On SIR, CEC And Jantar Mantar Denotification — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Supreme Court to hear Mahua Moitra's Circuit House stay plea on Friday — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- SC seeks government response on denotification of Jantar Mantar as protest site — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Supreme Court seeks Centre’s response to plea challenging de-notification of Jantar Mantar as protest site — The New Indian Express (left-leaning) ·
- SC seeks Centre`s response on de-notification of Jantar Mantar as designated protest site — Zee News English (right-leaning) ·
- Jantar Mantar Denotified: 'Idea of protest in a country like India will remain' — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Jantar Mantar Totally Ill-Suited For A Protest Movement: Mahesh Jethmalani — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Delhi Police Denotifies Jantar Mantar, Shifts Protests To Three Venues — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- Kapil Sibal slams removal of Jantar Mantar's protest-site status — India Today (right-leaning) ·
- 'Right to protest has become a crime': Kapil Sibal slams Centre over Jantar Mantar denotification — The New Indian Express (left-leaning) ·
- After Jantar Mantar, Delhi’s new protest sites face access, infrastructure, visibility hurdles — The Hindu (left-leaning) ·