Photo Credit: NDTV
The Delhi Police has ordered the suspension of mobile internet services within a 4-km radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing for 24 hours starting from 10 pm on Friday. The measure is being taken ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The directive was issued on Friday evening by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police and addressed to telecom operators including Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, Jio, and MTNL. The order was implemented under sub-rule (1) of Rule 3 of the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024 read with Section 20(2)(b) of the Telecommunications Act 2023.
The order comes shortly after the Supreme Court questioned the government over curbs on transport services, remarking that authorities “can’t use a sledgehammer to kill a fly.”
Key Points Of The Internet Suspension And Protests
- Mobile internet services are suspended within a 4-km radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing for 24 hours from 10 pm on Friday.
- Affected areas include parts or all of Connaught Place, Mandi House, Pragati Maidan, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Barakhamba Road, Khan Market, Lodhi Road, and Jangpura.
- Entry and exit gates at 45 Delhi Metro stations remain closed from 9 pm on Friday.
- Over 60 trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday from other states were cancelled.
Impact On Transport And Previous Agitations
The restricted zones for internet services encompass prominent locations such as Connaught Place, Mandi House, Pragati Maidan, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Barakhamba Road, Khan Market, Lodhi Road, and Jangpura. During the CJP‘s previous protest at Jantar Mantar against NEET paper leaks in July, internet services were suspended for several days over a 1.5-km radius, which hampered video uploads by Gen Z protesters and delayed mainstream media reportage.
Regarding public transportation, entry and exit gates at 45 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, and Kashmere Gate, were scheduled to close from 9 pm on Friday. Additionally, over 60 trains from outstation stations slated to reach New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday were cancelled.
Supreme Court Observations
Hearing a petition challenging the transport curbs on Friday, a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that transport and basic facilities should not face complete prohibition.
Young people and the elderly all travel. Commuters have a right to basic facilities. There is a distinction between restriction and complete closure.
The bench acknowledged that law enforcement authorities are entitled to implement regulatory measures and curb uncontrolled movement, but stressed that this does not mean bringing everything to a halt. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the government holds a responsibility to protect both the right to protest and public safety. Following the court’s observation that the notifications overreached by imposing a complete ban on essential public transport, the Solicitor General agreed to have authorities reassess the prohibitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were mobile internet services suspended in Delhi?
Mobile internet services were suspended for 24 hours within a 4-km radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing by the Delhi Police ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What did the Supreme Court say about transport curbs?
The Supreme Court stated that authorities cannot use a sledgehammer to kill a fly and noted that a distinction exists between restricting movement and complete prohibition. The bench observed that basic transport facilities for commuters should not be brought to a complete halt.
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