New Delhi, Hoping that “better sense will prevail” among all concerned, the Supreme Court on Friday refused an urgent hearing on a plea against the NDMC order shutting down Central Park at Connaught Place over the proposed protest by the Cockroach Janta Party.
Small shopkeepers earn their livelihood during these days. We know the hardship and difficulty entire families will face. The court could exercise its constitutional jurisdiction if the situation resulted in business losses. During the hearing, the lawyer submitted that the New Delhi Municipal Council issued directions late Thursday night to shut down Central Park, effectively preventing trade from taking place. Justice Bagchi indicated that the court had ample jurisdiction to intervene if the measures were found to be disproportionate, including through its powers under public and compensation law. The call came on a day Das and Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody and were lodged in Tihar Jail for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which has been denotified as a protest area.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi declined to entertain the plea and said, “We hope better sense will prevail on everyone.
