Delhi High Court Refuses to Stop CJP Protest at Connaught Place

The Delhi High Court CJP protest matter took centre stage on Thursday as the court refused to restrain the Cockroach Janta Party and its founder Abhijeet Dipke from holding a planned protest at Connaught Place Central Park on October 16.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma, however, took on record the Delhi Police’s assurance that all possible steps would be taken to regulate and control the protest activity.

Vendor Moves Court Over Festive-Season Disruption

The petition was filed by a Connaught Place vendor who sought directions to the police to regulate the protest in accordance with existing law laid down by the Supreme Court.

The petitioner’s senior counsel argued that traders and vendors in central Delhi could face severe losses if another weekend was affected by closures during the festive season.

Counsel warned that businesses would be “on the streets” if disruptions continued.

Court Records Police Assurance

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the authorities, told the court that steps had already been taken to control CJP activities and assured the bench that the petitioner’s concerns would be addressed.

The court formally recorded that assurance.

When the petitioner’s counsel pressed for a specific order restraining the CJP from holding the gathering, the bench declined to go further.

“Don’t insist. We have passed the order,” the bench said.

Urgent Hearing Sought Over Connaught Place Protest

The matter reached the bench after the court agreed to hear the petition urgently earlier in the day.

While mentioning the matter, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Connaught Place Central Park was not a designated protest site and claimed that restrictions had already begun affecting businesses in the area.

The counsel also pointed to the festive period as a reason for seeking immediate intervention.

Abhijeet Dipke Calls for Gathering With Tricolour

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has called on supporters to assemble at Central Park carrying the national flag.

Dipke alleged that CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka had been jailed for unfurling the Tricolour and urged supporters to join the demonstration.

His characterisation reflects CJP’s position on the arrests.

Das and Ranka Sent to Judicial Custody

The protest call followed the decision to send Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody.

The two were lodged in Tihar Jail after authorities alleged that they violated earlier peace bonds and entered Jantar Mantar without authorisation.

Jantar Mantar has been denotified as a protest area, according to police.

Court Stops Short of Banning Protest

The Delhi High Court CJP protest order effectively leaves the October 16 gathering subject to police regulation rather than a judicial prohibition.

The court’s approach places responsibility on law-enforcement authorities to balance public-order concerns, business interests and protest activity in central Delhi.

With the demonstration planned in the heart of Connaught Place, attention will now turn to how Delhi Police manages the gathering and whether traffic or commercial activity is affected.