The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear on October 9 a petition by the Indian Youth Congress challenging police refusal to allow a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The group’s national president, Uday Bhanu Chib, filed the petition after Delhi Police rejected an application submitted on September 25. The Indian Youth Congress had sought permission for a peaceful demonstration of 100 to 150 people at Jantar Mantar from October 1 to 25.
The organisation said it was prepared to comply with lawful requirements on security, traffic and public order. The petition argues that the refusal did not include an individual assessment of the planned gathering and that restrictions on assemblies must be reasonable and proportionate.
The Indian Youth Congress is seeking to have the police decision set aside and its application reconsidered. It is also demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, alleging irregularities in the special intensive revision of voter rolls, known as SIR. These are claims made by the petitioner and have not been established by the court.