CEC protests: Bombay High Court says won’t allow detentions that violate law
The Bombay High Court has intervened in a petition regarding the mass detention of protesters during demonstrations against the Chief Election Commissioner. The court ordered that no illegal detentions will be permitted and requested that the petitioner provide documented evidence of specific instances.
Why it matters
The ruling underscores the judiciary's role in protecting civil liberties and ensuring police accountability during public protests.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) said it would not permit detentions that violate the law, while hearing a petition on the Mumbai Police’s detention of protesters during demonstrations against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on October 10 and 11. It adjourned the matter to Monday.
“We will take care of the issue but we will not permit this,” Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi said. The Bench directed the petitioner to place instances of detentions on record. “Bring everything on record... We cannot say no detention at all... But each example needs to be brought on record,” it said.
The petition, filed by Sagar Kantilal Devre, states that the police detained around 600 persons on October 10 and 300 on October 11. It claims those detained included passers-by, women and a mother with a child.
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