JANTAR MANTAR LOSES ITS STATUS AS DELHI’S PROTEST HUB AS POLICE REDRAW THE CAPITAL’S MAP OF PUBLIC DISSENT
October 12, 2026
Delhi Police on Monday withdrew Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated venue for protests and demonstrations, naming three alternative locations for citizens seeking to organise public gatherings. The decision marks a significant change in the arrangements governing demonstrations in the national capital, shifting the focus away from a site long associated with political agitation, civil society campaigns and public expressions of dissent.
In a notice issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, the police said the Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to examine suitable alternative venues where citizens could exercise their right to organise protests and demonstrations. Acting on the committee’s recommendations, the authorities decided to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites.
The three newly designated locations are Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi. Delhi Police said a detailed and revised standard operating procedure governing demonstrations at these venues would be issued separately.
The order partially modifies an earlier police standing order dated April 28, 2022, which regulated the organisation of protests and demonstrations in the capital. The revised framework is expected to establish the procedures applicable to public gatherings at the three newly designated locations.
The decision comes amid heightened controversy over restrictions on demonstrations in Delhi following the proposed protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and supporting groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration, planned for Jantar Mantar on October 10, was prevented from proceeding as intended after Delhi Police refused permission and deployed extensive security personnel across the capital.
The episode triggered a wider dispute over the regulation of protests, with organisers alleging that authorities had obstructed their right to peaceful assembly. Police, meanwhile, cited public-order and security concerns in defending the restrictions imposed around the proposed gathering.
Jantar Mantar has long served as one of Delhi’s most prominent public platforms for political and social movements. Its proximity to key government institutions and its history of hosting demonstrations have made it an important location for groups seeking to draw attention to public grievances. Its removal from the list of designated protest venues therefore represents a notable change in the capital’s arrangements for public demonstrations.
The designation of Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground provides alternative locations, but the practical implications will depend partly on the revised operating procedures that Delhi Police has said will be issued separately. Those rules are expected to clarify how organisers can seek permission and conduct demonstrations at the new venues.
The change places renewed attention on how authorities balance public order with the right of citizens to assemble and express dissent. While designating specific venues can help authorities manage crowds, traffic and security, the effectiveness of the new arrangement will depend on whether citizens and organisations can obtain reasonable access to the locations and exercise their rights in practice.
With Jantar Mantar no longer designated as a protest site, Delhi is entering a new phase in the administration of public demonstrations. The three replacement venues will now become central to the city’s protest framework, while the forthcoming standard operating procedure will determine how the new system functions.
