Delhi Police seeks ex-parte restrictive orders to prevent unrest in Delhi

According to a report by The Hindu, the Delhi Police has presented seven separate restrictive orders in the Supreme Court in the name of maintaining law and order in Delhi. These orders have been implemented under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar stated in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court that these orders were issued 'ex-parte', meaning without hearing any party, because it is not possible to give individual notices to everyone. These restrictions are for a maximum period of 60 days, which will remain in effect until the latter half of October.

According to the police, the main purpose of these orders is to prevent traffic obstruction, risks to human safety, and disruption of public peace caused by public meetings, processions, and demonstrations. Under these restrictions, the assembly of five or more persons, shouting slogans, making speeches, picketing, or staging sit-ins has been prohibited. In addition, carrying weapons, lathis, swords, sticks, banners, and placards has also been forbidden. These orders have been implemented in sensitive areas like Connaught Place, Tughlak Road, Parliament Street, Chanakyapuri, Barakhamba Road, Safdarjung Enclave, and Defence Colony. It is noteworthy that the Prime Minister's residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and foreign embassies are located in the Chanakyapuri area.

These orders were implemented even before the protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Six orders issued around August 20 came a month after the violent protests against the NEET-UG paper leak in July 2026. One of these restrictions is in effect from September 26 to November 24.

Several political leaders, lawyers, and activists have filed petitions in the Supreme Court against this move by the police. These include CPI(M) state secretary M.A. Baby, Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim, senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, and advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi. The petitioners allege that during the protests on October 10 and 11 demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, the police illegally detained approximately 7,000 people. During this time, Delhi Metro services were shut down, barricades were placed on main roads, and trains were cancelled, causing thousands of passengers to be stranded.

Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, through his lawyer Chand Qureshi, argued that this shutdown is a clear violation of the Supreme Court's October 9 order, which clearly stated that authorities should not put ordinary commuters in difficulty. The police say that these 'swift measures' were absolutely necessary to save human life and ensure safety.

Delhi Police is the law enforcement agency of the national capital Delhi, which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for maintaining peace and order in Delhi, preventing crime, and ensuring the safety of citizens. In the past as well, this organization has used various restrictive measures to maintain security arrangements in the capital.