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A protest against air pollution scheduled for Sunday evening at India Gate is now uncertain after the Delhi Police issued an order stating that no demonstration can take place, as the area is always under Section 163 (preventive orders) of the BNSS.
Under Section 163, the magistrate can issue immediate preventive orders in urgent cases where there is sufficient ground to prevent nuisance to or danger to human life, public disturbance, or riots.
A senior police officer said Jantar Mantar, not India Gate, is the designated place for protest for which specific rules have been framed by the Supreme Court.
In a letter written to Bhavreen Kandhari, Founder & CEO of Climapreneur, the office of Additional DCP, New Delhi, said that as per SC orders, no protest can be held at India Gate due to security and traffic protocols and BNSS 163 being implemented in the area.
“Information has been received through reliable sources that you, along with your supporters, will hold a programme on 09.11.2025, on the subject cited above. In this regard, it is to inform you that Section 163 BNSS is in force in the entire area of New Delhi District, except Jantar Mantar. Therefore, protest at India Gate… on 09.11.2025 from 1700 hrs. onwards cannot be permitted in view of security/law & order/traffic reasons & existing guidelines framed in compliance of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s order dated 23.07.2018,” the letter read.
A senior police officer also said no permission, with direct responsibility taken by a person or authority, was sought from the Delhi Police in this matter. “Necessary legal action would need to be taken if protesters gather at India Gate.”
However, organisers said it is impossible to stop protesters from gathering as information of the protest has reached several people. “Permission to protest at Jantar Mantar has to be sought 10 days in advance, how is it possible now?,” asked one of the organisers.
Delhiites woke up to a hazy morning on Sunday, with the air quality at most air monitoring stations hitting ‘severe’, according to data from by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
As of 7 am, the city’s air quality was in the ‘Very Poor’ category (AQI of 391).
In Delhi, 22 out of the 39 monitoring stations recorded an AQI above the 400-mark, with Bawana (436) lodging the highest AQI, followed by Wazirpur (435), and Rohini (435), at 7 am.
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