Delhi Police De-notifies Jantar Mantar as Designated Protest Site
The Delhi Police officially de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site on Monday, October 12, 2026. The decision follows recommendations from a committee established by the Ministry of Home Affairs to identify alternative venues for demonstrations in the national capital. In its place, the police have designated three new locations: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi.
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued a standing order on October 11, 2026, partially modifying earlier Standing Order No. L&O/48/22 dated April 28, 2022, to name Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground as the designated protest sites.
Judicial and Administrative Alignment
The move aligns with recent observations from the Supreme Court. On October 9, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant discussed the necessity of finding more spacious, open-air locations for public dissent. Both the court and the Union government had reasoned that the central Delhi site was overly cramped, lacking basic amenities such as medical facilities, drinking water, and washrooms, while also causing significant inconvenience to local commuters.
Political Reaction
The decision has drawn immediate criticism from political quarters. Saurav Das, co-convener of the Cockroach Janta Party, described the de-notification as an arbitrary and unacceptable measure. The Delhi Police has indicated that a detailed and revised Standard Operating Procedure for organizing protests at the newly designated venues will be issued separately.
What changes for protest organisers
De-notification changes Delhi Police's designated venues for planned demonstrations; it should not be described as an absolute abolition of the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. Organisers will need to review the new venue list, application deadlines, capacity restrictions and the revised standard operating procedures once issued. The shift from a central symbolic location to larger grounds also affects public visibility, travel costs and access for participants with disabilities. The police order and the legality of specific restrictions are separate matters that may be challenged through legal processes. For readers, the practical information is which locations are designated, which permissions remain necessary and where official guidelines can be obtained.