Supreme Court Sets Sunday Hearing on Contempt Plea Over Delhi Transit Shutdown

The Supreme Court has scheduled a special Sunday hearing to examine a contempt petition accusing top administrative and police heads of wilful defiance by enforcing a blanket shutdown of public transport corridors across the national capital. A special Bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana will take up the matter on Sunday following extensive disruptions triggered by security measures implemented against demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The legal challenge, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, contends that the continuation of sweeping travel restrictions violated the apex court's October 9 directives. The earlier judicial order had emphasized that state authorities must avoid inflicting hardship or widespread suffering on ordinary commuters through total prohibitions on public movement. The petition seeks contempt proceedings against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Chairperson D. Thara.

During Saturday's demonstrations centered around Jantar Mantar, heavy security cordons, barricades, and spike strips transformed parts of the capital into a fortress. Tens of thousands of security personnel from the Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces were deployed to manage the situation. Concurrently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation maintained entry and exit gate closures across 45 metro stations, extending restrictions through late Saturday evening, alongside widespread train cancellations affecting rail routes terminating in Delhi.

Legal representatives bringing the matter before the bench argued that the severe limitations on urban transit severely crippled daily life and blocked access for ordinary citizens. The petitioner submitted that authorities failed to publish transparent traffic advisories or ease restrictions despite clear judicial parameters requiring regulated transit operations rather than a complete standstill.

In addition to the transit contempt petition, the special Sunday bench is slated to review a habeas corpus plea filed by senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member Menaka Guruswamy. That petition challenges the mass preventive detentions executed by law enforcement agencies, which targeted political figures, former Chief Ministers, student activists, and lawyers ahead of and during the public demonstrations.

Arguments on both petitions will commence when the court convenes for the special weekend session. The outcomes of Sunday's proceedings are expected to establish stricter parameters for executive enforcement during large-scale civil demonstrations in the national capital.