Delhi Police has told the Supreme Court that Jantar Mantar should no longer be used as a designated protest venue, arguing that frequent demonstrations in the area pose risks to public safety, disrupt traffic and hamper access for emergency services.
In an affidavit submitted before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar said a Union Home Ministry-appointed committee had unanimously concluded that the central Delhi location was unsuitable for large public gatherings. The panel recommended shifting demonstrations to Ramlila Maidan, CBD Ground in East Delhi and Burari Ground in north-west Delhi.
The police maintained that a public road could not continue to function as a permanent protest site and said the proposed alternatives would allow citizens to exercise their right to peaceful assembly without compromising public order.
According to the affidavit, Jantar Mantar witnesses more than 1,300 protests annually, despite having an assessed capacity of approximately 1,500 people.
Delhi Police said large gatherings frequently obstruct roads and restrict the movement of ambulances and fire services, increasing the risk of emergencies and stampedes.
The administration also pointed to the concentration of diplomatic missions and government offices around the venue. As many as 78 foreign embassies, diplomatic missions and international organisations are located within a three-to-four-kilometre radius.
The area also houses 99 Central government offices, ministries and autonomous institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India. These establishments collectively receive around 1.46 lakh visitors every day, the affidavit stated.
Police said the impact of demonstrations extends beyond government offices and traffic. The surrounding area has approximately 7,017 private homes housing nearly 36,685 people, besides 5,349 government residential units with around 27,881 occupants.
Frequent protests and congestion, the police argued, interfere with residents' daily movement and access to essential services.
The affidavit also cited crime and public-order figures. Between August 1 and 27, the area around Jantar Mantar reportedly recorded around 250 distress calls. During the same period, police registered 119 FIRs involving theft, including vehicle theft, received more than 254 property-loss claims and recorded 23 cases linked to public-order violations, rioting and defacement.
The affidavit was filed in a separate petition moved by Swaty Singh. Kumar clarified that the proposal to withdraw Jantar Mantar's status as a designated protest location was under consideration well before the Supreme Court's October 9 order in another matter.
The committee was constituted on August 26 and submitted its findings to the Home Ministry in September, the police said.
Delhi Police argued that the three proposed locations — Ramlila Maidan, CBD Ground and Burari Ground — would provide more suitable spaces for demonstrations while allowing authorities to manage traffic, public safety and emergency access.
The police said the decision was based on the committee's assessment and the need to balance the right to peaceful protest with the interests of residents, commuters and public institutions.
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