In a preventive move ahead of the proposed march, Delhi Police personnel reached the residence of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and served him a notice directing him not to visit Central Park in the Connaught Place area, where prohibitory orders are in force. The authorities have closed Central Park and urged people to maintain peace, even as the CJP seeks to mobilise political parties and civil society groups around its allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police personnel visited the residence of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke before CJP's planned march in Central Park, Connaught Place, and served him a notice asking him not to visit Central Park in Central Delhi. The notice comes amid prohibitory orders intended to prevent any gathering that could disturb public order. Central Park, one of the locations identified by the CJP for its proposed programme, has been shut ahead of the event.
Dipke has appealed to political parties, civil society organisations and members of the public to participate in the march while carrying the national flag. He has sought to build a broader coalition beyond conventional political affiliations, arguing that the controversy surrounding electoral roll revision has implications for democratic participation.
“I request all political parties and civil society groups to rise above ideology and come together. If the right to vote is not saved, democracy will not be saved,” Dipke said on Thursday.
The CJP has been protesting against the Centre, accusing it of shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the dispute over the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. These are allegations advanced by the organisation and remain distinct from any judicial finding on the matter.
The immediate trigger for Friday’s march is the judicial custody of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The two were taken into custody following their entry into Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a protest site. The CJP is demanding their release and has sought to turn the issue into a wider campaign around the right to protest and electoral accountability.
However, the authorities have drawn a clear line between the right to express dissent and compliance with restrictions governing public gatherings. The Delhi Police has indicated that it would permit a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location. This limited arrangement offers a possible avenue for a symbolic expression of patriotism without allowing an unrestricted gathering at the prohibited site.
The police has also invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), under which prohibitory directions remain in force in the area. It has appealed to participants and the public to maintain calm and avoid actions that could lead to a confrontation or disrupt normal life.
DCP PRO Neha Yadav said appropriate legal action would be taken against anyone violating the orders. She urged people not to disturb the peace and order maintained in the area, stressing the need to ensure that local businesses and shopkeepers are not adversely affected by the proposed demonstration.
A traffic advisory has also been issued, with commuters advised to allow additional time when travelling through Central Delhi. The expected movement of protesters and restrictions around key locations could affect traffic, making compliance with police instructions important for both participants and ordinary residents.
The episode highlights the difficult balance between democratic dissent and the practical requirements of maintaining public order in a densely populated city. Peaceful protest is an important democratic right, but its exercise is subject to lawful and proportionate restrictions, particularly where designated protest venues and prohibitory directions are involved. Equally, restrictions imposed by the authorities must be implemented in a manner that respects legitimate expression and does not unnecessarily prevent peaceful civic participation.
For the CJP, Friday’s march is an attempt to expand its campaign beyond the custody of two members and place the SIR controversy at the centre of a wider political debate. For the Delhi Police, the immediate priority is to prevent disorder, protect public movement and minimise disruption to businesses.
The outcome will depend on whether the organisers and the authorities can avoid confrontation while adhering to the applicable rules. The national flag may serve as the central symbol of the CJP’s mobilisation, but the larger test will be whether competing claims over democratic rights and public order can be addressed without disturbing peace in the capital.
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