Delhi High Court Reviews Plea for Sonam Wangchuk’s Peaceful Protest at Jantar Mantar
The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Delhi Police and the Government of NCT Delhi regarding a plea from the Apex Body Leh. This plea seeks permission for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others to hold a peaceful protest or fast at Jantar Mantar from October 8 to October 23, 2024.
Details of the Plea
A bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma has asked for responses by October 18, 2024, with a hearing set for October 22, 2024. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, opposed the plea, questioning the urgency of the protest.
Background of the Protest
The Apex Body Leh filed the plea to allow Sonam Wangchuk and other ‘Padyatris’ to protest at Jantar Mantar. The plea argues that this is a fundamental right under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Indian Constitution, which protect free speech and peaceful assembly.
Approximately 200 participants began a peaceful march, called a Padyatra, from Leh, Ladakh, to New Delhi, covering over 900 kilometers in 30 days. Their goal is to raise awareness about the ecological and cultural degradation of Ladakh and the Himalayan region.
Rejection by Delhi Police
The Delhi Police rejected the protest request, citing “no valid grounds.” The petition claims this rejection violates the petitioners’ rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. It argues that the police have not provided valid reasons for the rejection, despite the peaceful nature of the march.
The planned protest aims to communicate grievances to authorities, and the denial of permission limits the petitioners’ ability to engage in public discourse, undermining open expression.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big building where important judges work. They help decide if rules and laws are being followed correctly in Delhi, which is a big city in India.
Plea -: A plea is like a request or asking for something important. In this case, people are asking the court for permission to do something.
Sonam Wangchuk -: Sonam Wangchuk is a person who cares a lot about the environment. He works to help protect nature and make sure we take care of our planet.
Jantar Mantar -: Jantar Mantar is a special place in Delhi where people often gather to talk about important issues and sometimes protest peacefully.
Apex Body Leh -: The Apex Body Leh is a group of people from Leh, a place in India, who work together to talk about and solve important issues in their area.
NCT Delhi -: NCT stands for National Capital Territory, which is a special area that includes Delhi, the capital of India.
Delhi Police -: The Delhi Police are the people who help keep everyone safe in Delhi. They make sure everyone follows the rules and laws.
Fundamental right -: A fundamental right is something very important that everyone should have, like the right to speak freely or gather peacefully.
Ecological issues -: Ecological issues are problems that affect the environment, like pollution or cutting down too many trees. These issues can harm nature and living things.