Delhi High Court seeks reply from authorities on plea to hold meeting at Ramlila Maidan

The court was informed by advocate Arun Panwar, appearing for the Delhi Police, that it had received an application on November 8 by Maha Tyagi Sewa Sansthan for organising a programme between December 3-5 at Ramlila Maidan and a no objection certificate had already been issued to it.

The High Court asked the police’s counsel to place the relevant records, including a copy of the application filed by Mahatyagi Sewa Sansthan, on an affidavit before it.

The HC was hearing a plea by “Mission Save Constitution” which aims to work on a national campaign to disseminate widespread awareness of the ideals and provisions of the Constitution of India.

The petitioner claims to be aggrieved by the pendency of a decision by the DCP Central District on its request for an NOC to organise the event, All India Muslim Mahapanchayat, on December 4 at Ramlila Maidan.

The petitioner has sought a direction to DCP Central district to act on a letter of November 10 by which the MCD had informed the petitioner that the Ramlila Maidan was available on December 4 for holding the mahapanchayat.

The organisation had earlier called for a mass meeting on October 29 at the same venue the permission for which was first granted, and then subsequently revoked by the Delhi Police. The organisation had moved the Delhi High Court and its plea was dismissed on October 25 while observing that the petitioner may apply for permission afresh after the festival period.

“The Petitioner consequently rescheduled their event for 04.12.2023 and applied for permission to book the Ramlila Ground on 10.11.2023. The Horticulture Department of the MCD redirected the Petitioner to the Delhi Police for an NOC, and the Petitioner hence submitted a request on 13.11.2023 in this regard, after the conclusion of Diwali festivities on 12.11.2023,” the plea submitted.

The petitioner claimed that DCP (Central District) has failed to act on their request for the NOC and has kept it pending pursuant to which it has approached the Delhi High Court.