Is Jantar Mantar a suitable protest venue? Supreme Court issues notice to Centre over PIL

The counsel appearing for the petitioner, Satish Chand Kaushik, referred to a protest called by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal against E20 policy and march to the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday (August 4).

The petitioner urged the court to avoid a repeat of what happened on July 20 during the Sansad Chalo march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against NEET paper leak and other issues. The march saw clashes between protesters and police personnel.

To this, the bench replied that the authorities would handle it appropriately.

‘Discontent in the minds of peace-loving citizens’

The bench has also agreed to examine another plea seeking accountability from the CJP, which organised the July 20 Sansad Chalo march.

Appearing for the petitioner, a retired Indian Air Force officer, advocate Rizwan Ahmed claimed before the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, that the organisers are still fanning the fire even as the government has been generous towards them.

Many are continuing to make reckless statements and creating acrimony in society, he claimed. The counsel also pointed out that young boys and girls who “unfortunately” used abusive language during the protests have been booked by the police.

“Now they are taking reels and putting them on social media. Social media has become an ugly battleground,” he told the court.

He urged that such boys and girls be sent for community service for at least seven days instead of filing FIRs against them as that will create more acrimony in the society.

He added that there is also the issue of different state governments issuing different notifications regarding arrests or FIRs.

A uniform policy is necessary “because these notifications are causing discontent in the minds of peace-loving citizens of the country,” Ahmed told the court. The bench said it will hear it at the earliest, most likely Wednesday.