Supreme Court Directs Removal of All Barricades in Delhi to Ensure Smooth Traffic

The Supreme Court of India has directed authorities to remove all unnecessary barricades across Delhi, ensure uninterrupted internet services, and keep metro and rail networks fully operational. Issued on Sunday by a bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, the directives came during a hearing on a petition concerning severe security arrangements and public transport restrictions stemming from a protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Emphasizing the protection of civil liberties, the bench ruled that peaceful and unarmed protesters cannot be illegally detained in areas where Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is not in force. The court explicitly stated that normal movement across the capital must be guaranteed, while noting that lawful restrictions may still be applied where genuinely necessary to maintain public order and traffic flow.

Addressing judicial access, the judges instructed authorities to remove notices regarding Section 163 restrictions from entry and exit routes leading to the Supreme Court and other courts. The bench asserted that litigants must face no hindrance in commuting, and crucially ruled that lawyers must never be obstructed or hindered from performing their vital professional duties during civil demonstrations.

During the proceedings, the government reported that out of 303 Delhi Metro stations, entry and exit gates at 45 stations had been temporarily closed on Saturday but were subsequently reopened, alongside the full restoration of internet services. In light of the public transport disruptions and suppression concerns, the Supreme Court has sought formal responses from relevant authorities, with the next hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

Source: India Today, NDTV, and LiveLaw.