Can’t occupy protest site for all times to come: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ruled that protesters cannot occupy a site indefinitely in New Delhi, instead requiring designated sites for a specific period. This decision came after weeks of protests, including a march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on July 20, and protests at Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground as alternatives.

The court examined whether police surveillance during the protests amounted to negative state interference. Traders' organizations argued that the protests had severely impacted their businesses during the festive season, while the government maintained that the organizers of the protests were responsible for any loss of livelihood.

The court emphasized that right to protest is recognized under the Constitution, alongside the right to trade and business, and that a designated site must be provided for the protests, without interfering with the daily activities of others.