Delhi: Jantar Mantar De-Notified as Protest Site, Three New Venues Named
New Delhi, 12th October 2026: Delhi Police has removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated venues for protests and demonstrations, naming Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as the three alternative locations. The decision was announced through Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026, dated 11th October, and comes amid heightened tensions over recent protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to the order signed by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, the Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to examine alternative venues where citizens could exercise their right to organise protests and demonstrations. Based on the committee’s recommendations, Jantar Mantar has now been de-notified as a designated protest site.
The order states that detailed and revised standard operating procedures (SOPs) for organising demonstrations at the three new venues will be issued separately. The change partially modifies the earlier standing order dated 28th April 2022, which governed the arrangements for protests in the national capital.
Jantar Mantar has served as one of Delhi’s most prominent protest locations for decades, hosting demonstrations by political parties, students, farmers, trade unions and civil society groups. Its location in central Delhi has made it a visible site for movements seeking to draw the attention of the government and the public.
The decision follows a Supreme Court intervention on October 9, when the court called for an alternative venue with better facilities for peaceful protesters. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, stressed the need for a larger space equipped with basic amenities, including drinking water, toilets and medical facilities, while ensuring public safety and access for other residents.
The change also comes after Delhi Police denied permission for a proposed 10th October demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which was demanding accountability from Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The proposed protest was followed by widespread detentions and heightened security arrangements across the capital.
The new arrangement raises questions about how protest permissions will be handled at the designated grounds and whether the revised procedures will make demonstrations more accessible. While the police order identifies alternative locations, the detailed rules governing their use are yet to be issued.
