Barricades restricting movement at Delhi's iconic Jantar Mantar have been removed following an order by the Delhi Police Commissioner de-notifying the location as an authorised protest site, ANI reported. The removal comes after months of restrictions around the area, which has historically been a prominent centre for political demonstrations and public agitations within walking distance of Parliament.

Source: ANI via DevDiscourse

The barricading had raised concerns among local residents, who approached the court citing the inconvenience caused by restricted movement in the area. With the location no longer designated for protests, the removal of the barricades is expected to ease movement and provide relief to residents and commuters, the report said.

Delhi Police has designated three alternative locations for holding protests: Ramlila Maidan in Central Delhi, Burari Maidan in North-West Delhi and CBD Ground in East Delhi, ANI reported via APNA MA TV.

Source: ANI via APNA MA TV

What the police told the Supreme Court

In a counter-affidavit filed on Wednesday in journalist Swaty Singh's plea challenging the de-notification, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar said it was incorrect to suggest that Jantar Mantar was de-notified pursuant to the Supreme Court's October 9 order in the M A Baby case. The police said the decision was based primarily on the recommendations of a Ministry of Home Affairs committee and was taken after considering the changed ground situation, including traffic obstruction, crowd management and the impact of protests on residents, government offices and emergency services.

The police said the proposal to change the notified protest venue had been under consideration by the police and the Central government for a considerable period. The Home Ministry committee, constituted on August 26, examined whether Jantar Mantar should continue as a designated protest site and itself identified the three alternative venues. The affidavit said fire brigades and ambulances face constraints around the site and that large gatherings can spill over towards Janpath and Connaught Place, creating traffic and crowd-management problems.

The de-notification itself is not new: it took effect in October, when the INDIA bloc said it would fight to restore Jantar Mantar as a protest venue. What has changed this week is that the restrictions on the ground have now been lifted and the police case for the move is formally before the Supreme Court in the Swaty Singh challenge. Protest organisers will, for now, have to use the three designated alternative venues while that challenge is heard.