‘THE TRICOLOUR NEEDS NO PERMISSION’: NEHA BORA TAKES FIGHT AGAINST DELHI POLICE NOTICE TO HIGH COURT
October 22, 2026
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 22, 2026 — All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora has challenged a Delhi Police notice before the Delhi High Court, arguing that citizens do not need police permission merely to hoist the national flag. Her challenge comes amid a wider controversy over police action against activists participating in demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Bora’s petition contests a notice requiring her to appear before a Special Executive Magistrate and execute a personal bond of ₹10,000, with one surety, for maintaining peace during an inquiry. The notice was issued under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which empowers authorities to seek a bond when they receive credible information that a person may breach the peace or disturb public tranquillity.
Bora has argued that the notice is ambiguous, factually incorrect and infringes upon her constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and expression and the right to personal liberty. She has sought judicial intervention to stay the notice and direct the police to withdraw it.
The case is connected to a series of protests in the national capital organised by student activists and other groups against Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The demonstrations have also raised objections to restrictions on public gatherings and the use of preventive detention against protesters.
Bora was detained on October 16 while on her way to participate in the Cockroach Janta Party’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march. She was released the following day. The march sought to mobilise people around the national flag while raising political demands concerning the Election Commission.
The dispute has intensified questions over the limits of police powers to regulate demonstrations and the circumstances in which preventive legal measures can be imposed on activists. While authorities can take lawful steps to maintain public order, Bora’s challenge places the legality and justification of the notice before the judiciary.
The matter also comes amid proceedings involving Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were taken into custody after a protest at Jantar Mantar. Police have alleged that the protesters entered the denotified protest site by crossing private premises and obstructed officers performing their duties. The activists have challenged the police action.
The broader confrontation has become a flashpoint over peaceful protest, the display of the national flag and the right to dissent. The High Court’s consideration of Bora’s petition will bring renewed judicial scrutiny to the police notice and the legal basis for requiring her to furnish a bond to maintain peace.
