Delhi protests: SC bars illegal detention of peaceful protesters, orders restoration of normal Metro, internet services

The Supreme Court on Sunday directed that people gathering peacefully should not be illegally detained and asked the Centre to ensure that Delhi Metro services operate as per their normal schedule and internet services remain uninterrupted, subject to law-and-order conditions.

The top court also said lawyers, journalists and others must not be impeded from discharging their professional duties amid protests in the national capital.

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The directions came as a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took up urgent applications alleging violations of its October 9 order and illegal detention of a large number of people during Saturday's protests. The court issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking contempt proceedings against authorities over alleged non-compliance with its directions.

The bench said it would hear all lawyers and made clear that it was not seeking to trivialise the events that had prompted the pleas.

SC flags alleged violations of October 9 order

The court assembled for an urgent hearing after applications alleged that its earlier directions had been flouted and that people were detained beyond the area covered by prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

"In view of the urgent applications alleging violation of our earlier order dt. October 9, 2026, and also alleging illegal detention of large number of individuals at Delhi on October 10, 2026 this court had assembled for an urgent hearing," the bench said.

The applications alleged that Metro services had stopped functioning, New Delhi and Nizamuddin railway stations remained closed, traffic advisories were not issued and people faced harassment and illegal detention.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that entry and exit had been restricted at only 45 of the 303 stations across the Delhi Metro network on October 10.

The Supreme Court asked Mehta to ensure that the Metro runs according to its normal schedule and that internet services are not disrupted, subject to law-and-order conditions. It also called for lawyers, journalists and others to be allowed to perform their professional duties without obstruction.

Also read: Delhi protest: Several protesters detained on second day of CJP stir

Contempt plea names senior officials

The contempt petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, names Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chairperson D Thara as respondents. It alleges that authorities violated the Supreme Court's directions on Metro and train services in the national capital.

The plea refers to the court's October 9 order, passed while hearing a separate petition challenging the closure of 57 Metro stations and the cancellation of trains to Delhi in view of the planned protest.

The apex court was also hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy concerning the detention of political leaders.

The protest call was given by the CJP and some student organisations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission.

The government prevented the planned mass mobilisation at Jantar Mantar on Saturday following a major security deployment. More than 7,000 protesters were detained, including CJP leader Abhijit Dipke, several opposition leaders and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.

(With inputs from PTI)