Delhi Police Says No Permission Was Sought or Granted for Any Protest March in New Delhi
Delhi Police has clarified that no permission was either sought or granted for any protest march or procession in the New Delhi district, warning that any unauthorised assembly would invite legal action. The statement came ahead of the proposed “Sansad Chalo” march organised by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
In an official advisory issued through its social media platforms, the police said that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 are currently in force across the New Delhi district. Under these restrictions, protest marches, processions, demonstrations and assemblies of five or more persons are prohibited, except at the designated protest site of Jantar Mantar. Citizens were urged to comply with the law and avoid participating in unauthorised gatherings in the interest of public peace and security.
The police further stated that no organisation had submitted an application seeking permission for a march towards Parliament. Consequently, authorities warned that any attempt to organise or participate in an unauthorised procession would be dealt with in accordance with the law. Security arrangements were significantly strengthened around Parliament House, Vijay Chowk, Central Vista and other sensitive locations to prevent any breach of security during the opening of the Monsoon Session.
Despite the advisory, thousands of protesters associated with the CJP gathered in Delhi and attempted to march towards Parliament. Police stopped the procession with barricades, and clashes later broke out between demonstrators and security personnel. The confrontation resulted in injuries to both protesters and police officers, with authorities subsequently registering criminal cases related to violence, stone-pelting and damage to public property.
Following the clashes, Delhi Police also rejected allegations that pellet guns had been used against protesters, describing such claims as “false and misleading.” The force said only standard crowd-control measures were employed and appealed to the public not to circulate misinformation regarding the incident.
The controversy has since sparked a wider political debate, with opposition parties accusing the government of curbing democratic dissent, while the authorities maintain that their actions were aimed solely at enforcing legal restrictions and maintaining law and order during a high-security parliamentary session.
