The Delhi Police has told the Delhi High Court that its security measures in connection with the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests at Jantar Mantar were aimed at maintaining law and order and were not intended to “snoop” on demonstrators.
The submission was made in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging that protesters were being subjected to continuous and intrusive surveillance through photography, videography and round-the-clock monitoring.
The petition, filed by former JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghosh, has alleged that the police were indiscriminately monitoring participants in the protest and hunger strike, including during routine activities. It has further claimed that some student protesters were allegedly threatened with the possibility of their photographs being sent to their parents and educational institutions, creating an atmosphere of intimidation.
The Delhi Police, however, defended its actions before the High Court, asserting that the measures were undertaken as part of its responsibility to ensure public safety and preserve law and order amid the ongoing demonstrations.
The plea has questioned the legal basis and procedural safeguards governing the alleged surveillance, contending that indiscriminate monitoring could have a chilling effect on the exercise of fundamental rights, including the rights to privacy, dignity, free speech and peaceful assembly.
The protest at Jantar Mantar, which began on June 20, has been organised under the banner of the CJP and has witnessed participation by students and activists. The matter has raised broader constitutional questions concerning the balance between legitimate policing requirements during public demonstrations and the protection of citizens’ fundamental freedoms.
The Delhi High Court is examining whether the surveillance measures alleged in the PIL were legally justified and proportionate to the objective of maintaining public order.
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