Delhi High Court Asks Authorities to Decide Fresh Plea for 20 September Jantar Mantar Demonstration Within a Week

On 27 August 2026 the petitioner applied for permission to hold a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on 6 September 2026; Respondent No. 3 refused it by a communication of 28 August 2026 (para 3). His writ petition against the Government of NCT of Delhi and others sought quashing of the refusal, permission for 6 September or a fresh decision under Standing Order No. L&O/48/2022 and Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b), and alternatively permission for 20 September 2026 (para 3). At the hearing, the petitioner's advocate stated that the refusal had cited the BRICS Summit in Delhi, and asked that the demonstration be allowed on 20 September from 10 AM to 5 PM, subject to conditions (para 8).

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice, which was accepted on advance notice, and heard both sides, including the Additional Solicitor General for respondents 2 and 3 (paras 4-6). Prayers A, B, C and E, which concerned the 6 September demonstration, were concededly infructuous (para 7). The order makes no finding on the reasons for the earlier refusal; the reference to the BRICS Summit appears only in the statement made for the petitioner (para 8). On the request for 20 September, the Court did not itself grant permission. It directed the respondents to consider the prayer and decide it as per law, including whether to impose conditions "which are deemed appropriate as per law, if permission is granted" (para 9). The petitioner was to file a fresh application before the appropriate authority, which would be decided expeditiously, "within a week from date, under intimation to the petitioner" (para 10). With these directions the petition was disposed of (para 11).