Indian Youth Congress Challenges Delhi Police Protest Ban

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has petitioned the Delhi High Court to challenge the Delhi Police's refusal to grant permission for a peaceful protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar. IYC President Uday Bhanu Chib filed the plea after police rejected a September 25 application for a demonstration of 100 to 150 people, notifying the group of the denial on October 1, the first proposed date of the event.

The petition argues that the police used a mechanical application of guidelines to prohibit assembly without a proportionate assessment, invoking constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. The Delhi High Court agreed to list the matter within 24 hours and is scheduled to hear the plea on October 9, which also challenges the government's standard operating procedure for protest permissions.

Roopesh Singh Bhadauria, Chairman of the IYC Legal Cell, characterized the police actions as "high-handedness." He alleged a deliberate pattern where authorities deny permits to force opposition leaders onto the streets to justify registering "frivolous FIRs." This legal challenge follows a Wednesday protest where INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained. The Delhi Police have since registered at least three FIRs citing obstruction of government work and assault on personnel.