Delhi Police drop Jantar Mantar as protest site; Ramlila Maidan, Burari, CBD Ground named
Representative image: webentwicklerin / Pixabay
Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from its list of protest sites in an order dated 11 October 2026 and named Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground instead.
What Happened
Delhi Police have removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated places for protests and demonstrations in the capital, under a standing order issued on Sunday, 11 October 2026, by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar. The order names three new designated sites: Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi. Delhi Police said the decision followed recommendations by a committee of the Union Home Ministry. The change comes days after a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar led to detentions and a Supreme Court hearing on the rights of peaceful protesters.
Key Facts
- Order: standing order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on 11 October 2026.
- Jantar Mantar is no longer a designated protest site in Delhi.
- New designated sites: Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in east Delhi.
- Delhi Police said the decision was based on recommendations of a Home Ministry committee.
- The order came amid a series of protests, including a Cockroach Janta Party protest over alleged irregularities in the voter roll revision, for which police had denied permission.
- The Supreme Court had separately directed that people gathering peacefully must not be illegally detained and called for a review of barricading in Delhi.
Why It Matters
Jantar Mantar, in the heart of New Delhi, has for years been where people from across India go to make their grievances heard in the capital, from political groups to farmers, students and athletes. Removing its status changes where, and how visibly, citizens can protest in New Delhi.
The new sites are open grounds away from the government district. Ramlila Maidan has hosted big rallies before, including the 2011 anti-corruption protests, and Burari has been offered to protesters as an alternative in the past. CBD Ground is in east Delhi. Supporters of the move are likely to argue that larger grounds are easier to manage, cause less disruption to traffic and offices in the heart of the city, and reduce security risks. Critics are likely to say it pushes dissent out of sight.
The timing will draw attention. The order was issued as opposition parties and groups were protesting over the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, and just after the Supreme Court stepped in to protect peaceful protesters from illegal detention. The right to assemble peacefully is protected by the Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions, and any challenge to the order is likely to turn on whether moving protests away from the centre of the capital is a reasonable restriction or an unreasonable one.
| Site | Area | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jantar Mantar | New Delhi | Removed as designated protest site |
| Ramlila Maidan | Delhi | New designated site |
| Burari Ground | Delhi | New designated site |
| CBD Ground | East Delhi | New designated site |
Impact
Short-term: Groups planning demonstrations in Delhi will have to seek permission for one of the three new sites, and police are likely to stop gatherings at Jantar Mantar.
Long-term: The change could reduce the number of protests in the government district and may be challenged in court as a limit on the right to protest.
Who is affected: Political parties, unions, farmers' groups, students and citizens' groups who protest in Delhi; residents and businesses near the new sites; and Delhi Police, who must manage gatherings at larger grounds.
Key Takeaway
Delhi Police have ended Jantar Mantar's role as the capital's main protest venue, shifting demonstrations to Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground.
Questions and Answers
Can people still protest at Jantar Mantar?
Not as a designated protest site. A Delhi Police standing order dated 11 October 2026 removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated places for protests.
Where can protests now be held in Delhi?
The order names Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as the designated sites.
Why was the change made?
Delhi Police said it was based on recommendations by a committee of the Union Home Ministry. The order did not give further public reasons in the reports available.
Is this linked to the recent protests?
The order came days after a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar led to detentions and a Supreme Court direction against illegal detention of peaceful protesters, but police have not linked the two.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
