Delhi Police Removes Jantar Mantar as Designated Protest Site, Names Three Alternative Venues

The Delhi Police has denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and identified three alternative locations for organising public demonstrations in the national capital. Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi have been formally designated as venues for protests, according to a standing order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11, 2026.

The decision marks a significant change in the arrangements governing public demonstrations in Delhi, where Jantar Mantar has served as the principal designated protest venue for more than three decades.

The order, identified as Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026, partially amends the earlier Standing Order No. L&O/48/22, dated April 28, 2022, which regulated designated protest locations in the city.

Home Ministry Committee Recommended Alternative Venues

According to the order, the Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a committee to examine alternative locations that could facilitate citizens’ right to organise protests and demonstrations.

Acting on the committee’s recommendations, the authorities have removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites and officially recognised the three alternative grounds.

The Delhi Police has indicated that detailed and revised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for conducting demonstrations at the newly designated venues will be issued separately.

The forthcoming guidelines are expected to clarify the procedures for obtaining police permission, venue capacities, permissible timings, security arrangements and other operational requirements. Until the revised SOPs are notified, protest organisers will need to comply with the applicable rules and permission requirements.

Jantar Mantar’s Long History as a Protest Venue

Located near Parliament Street in central Delhi, Jantar Mantar has been a prominent gathering point for political parties, farmers’ organisations, students, activists, trade unions and citizens seeking government attention for their demands.

The site became a major venue for public demonstrations around 1993 and subsequently emerged as one of India’s most recognisable locations for political and civic protests.

Its proximity to Parliament and other important government institutions gave it considerable symbolic significance. However, its location within a sensitive security zone also meant that demonstrations were subject to strict regulations, police permissions and security restrictions.

The latest decision changes the designated geography of protests in the capital, shifting authorised demonstrations to locations outside the immediate vicinity of Parliament Street.

Supreme Court Had Raised the Issue

The development comes after the Supreme Court, on October 9, asked the government to consider identifying an alternative location for peaceful protests instead of Jantar Mantar, citing concerns relating to amenities and associated facilities.

The judicial observation came amid heightened political activity and demonstrations concerning the handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission.

Various groups, including the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and sections of the Opposition INDIA bloc, had sought permission to hold gatherings at or near Jantar Mantar.

Police restrictions and permission-related disputes surrounding some planned demonstrations had also drawn attention to the management of protests in the national capital.

Three New Locations for Demonstrations

The three designated alternatives are located in different parts of Delhi.

• Ramlila Maidan: Located in central Delhi, the ground has a long history of hosting large political rallies and public gatherings.
• Burari Ground: Situated in northern Delhi, it provides another designated location for demonstrations.
• CBD Ground: Located in East Delhi’s Shahdara area, it has been included among the newly designated venues.

The suitability of these locations will depend on factors such as crowd management, accessibility, public facilities and security arrangements.

No Blanket Ban on Peaceful Protests

The denotification of Jantar Mantar does not, by itself, amount to a blanket prohibition on peaceful protests across Delhi. Instead, the authorities have designated alternative venues for demonstrations under the revised framework.

The move highlights the continuing challenge of balancing citizens’ right to peaceful assembly with public safety, security concerns and the practical requirements of managing large gatherings in a densely populated capital.

The implementation of the new arrangement will become clearer once the revised SOPs are issued and applications for demonstrations at the alternative venues are processed.

For now, the October 11 order represents a partial modification of the 2022 framework. Jantar Mantar is no longer a designated protest site under the revised arrangement, while Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground have been formally recognised as alternatives.