Supreme Court has been approached in connection with apprehensions relating to the proposed protest march to be held by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi on September 5. The petition expressed apprehensions about the possibility of a law-and-order situation and made for restrictions on mass processions in sensitive areas of the national capital.

However, the top court on August 31 did not issue any interim order either banning or placing any restriction on the proposed procession. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana said there are no compelling circumstances at present for taking into account that the said agitation may create an undesirable situation.

The petition had been filed by former Delhi Police official Rajendra Singh. It appears that the apprehensions of the petitioner are in regard to holding of mass processions in sensitive areas of Delhi without proper permissions. It was told to the petitioner to make his apprehensions known to the Center and Delhi Police as it is their jurisdiction to maintain law and order.

CJP has also declared that its protest on September 5 will be a peaceful march of protest. CJP has mentioned certain issues pending about the commitments made by the party after their previous protests which include issues regarding cases against demonstrators. It is anticipated that the march will take place from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters.

Despite this, the Supreme Court has sent notice to the Centre and Delhi Police with respect to the petition filed by CJP. This case has been listed along with some other cases of students’ protests for hearing on September 10.

This development puts the spotlight on the delicate balancing act between the right to peaceful protest and the need of maintaining law and order on the part of the authorities. For the time being, the court has decided not to assume any disturbance and leave the arrangements of the protest of September 5 to the authorities.