Supreme Court Directs Restoration of Metro and Internet Services Amid Cockroach Janta Party Protest in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Sunday directed the Centre and Delhi authorities to ensure that Metro and railway services operate on their normal schedule and that internet services remain undisturbed except as permitted by law, amid protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party. A bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana also said peaceful assemblies must not lead to illegal detentions and that lawyers and journalists must be allowed to perform their duties.

The directions came during a special sitting that heard petitions alleging contempt of the court’s 9 October order. That earlier order had prohibited a complete shutdown of Metro and train services into Delhi for the 10 October protest. Petitioners said authorities nonetheless closed 45 Metro stations and imposed other restrictions on Saturday, when police detained more than 7,000 people according to organisers.

The Cockroach Janta Party, a youth-led group, has been mobilising against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Critics of the revision say it has removed large numbers of names, particularly from minority communities. Election authorities maintain the exercise targets duplicates, deceased voters and fraudulent entries. The planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on 10 October was met with extensive barricades, station closures and internet suspension in parts of central Delhi.

An executive magistrate’s court earlier on Sunday ordered the release of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and two other leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, on the condition that they commit no breach of the peace for one year. The three had been detained for about 23 hours after arriving in Delhi. Their lawyer said the magistrate imposed the one-year condition.

The Supreme Court bench issued notice to the Centre and sought a response by Tuesday. It asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure normal Metro operations and to prevent unlawful interference with internet services. The court clarified that its direction on internet does not curtail powers available under the Information Technology Act. It also ordered the removal of a notice board announcing prohibitory restrictions near the court premises so that access to justice is not impeded.

Delhi Traffic Police maintained extensive vehicular and pedestrian restrictions around Connaught Place, Mandi House and Lutyens’ Delhi on Sunday. The CJP renewed its call for demonstrations despite the Saturday crackdown. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation confirmed late on Saturday that stations were reopened, but the court’s Sunday order addresses the broader pattern of restrictions.

The case highlights the tension between public order measures and the right to peaceful assembly. The court had earlier observed that authorities must not use disproportionate tools that halt normal life for ordinary commuters. The 9 October hearing had stressed that Metro services cannot be completely suspended and that security steps should be limited to what is necessary.

Further hearings are expected after the Centre files its response. The release of the three leaders under the one-year condition and the court’s directions on transport and internet form the immediate outcome of the weekend litigation. Organisers have said they will continue to press for the resignation of the Election Commissioner and a review of the voter-roll revision.