Out of site: On Jantar Mantar denotification, protests and democracy

Out of site: On Jantar Mantar denotification, protests and democracy People’s protests are meant to be seen and heard, not hidden away The Delhi Police’s decision to denotify Jantar Mantar in the national capital as a site where protests can be organised has itself triggered a storm of protest over its sheer arbitrariness. The Delhi Police, which is under the Union Home Ministry, have told the Delhi High Court that Jantar Mantar was denotified as a protest site following a Supreme Court directive issued on October 9. The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had urged the Union government to identify an alternative protest site that is spacious and open. The order was passed while hearing petitions challenging the government’s decision to restrict movement within and into the city to halt the October 10 protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.