AMID the CJP stir in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Sunday directed that people gathering peacefully should not be illegally detained and asked them to ensure that Delhi Metro functions normally, and that there is no disruption to internet services, subject to law and order conditions. In a special sitting, a bench of justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also issued a notice to the Centre while hearing a plea seeking contempt proceedings for alleged violation of the court’s direction to ensure that there is no “complete prohibition” on metro and train services in Delhi due to the CJP protest. A protest call was given by the CJP and some student organisations against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission. The Government thwarted a planned mass mobilisation at Jantar Mantar on Saturday after an unprecedented security clampdown and the detention of over 7,000 protesters, including CJP leader Abhijit Dipke, several opposition leaders and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.

 

The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that Delhi Metro functions as per its normal schedule, and that there is no disruption to internet services, subject to law and order conditions. The apex court also asked Mehta to ensure that lawyers, journalists and others shall not be impeded in discharging their professional duties. “Internet facilities shall remain undisturbed, as per law....When we are saying internet facilities shall remain undisturbed, we are not taking away the powers under the Information Technology Act. “There shall not be illegal detention, save and except by procedure established by law, particularly with regard to assemblage of people beyond the area within which it’s imposed,” the bench said.