Delhi internet shutdown ordered near Janpath ahead of CJP protest

The government has suspended mobile internet services in a four-kilometre radius around Janpath and Kartavya Path in central Delhi, as authorities brace for a major protest against India's Chief Election Commissioner.

The 24-hour communications block, running from 10 pm on 9 October to 10 pm on 10 October, is part of a sweeping preventive security operation by the Delhi Police. The opposition Congress-led INDIA bloc and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have called for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, following controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Alongside the digital blackout, officials have targeted transport links used by potential protesters. The Bikaner Division of the North Western Railway cancelled 13 Delhi-bound train services, mostly originating from Haryana. Meanwhile, Delhi Police proposed shutting the entry and exit gates of 57 metro stations across the capital and cutting back train frequencies to control the crowd.

This heavy-handed approach drew swift criticism from the Supreme Court. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana expressed serious concern over the scale of the metro closures, warning that complete shutdowns would disrupt daily life for thousands of ordinary commuters, students, and workers.

"One very important principle that we follow for every citizen is the principle of proportionality," Chief Justice Kant told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre. "You have to prevent certain things. Take measures only to the extent necessary to prevent them. But that does not mean you use a hammer to kill a fly."

Mehta assured the court that he would discuss these concerns with senior officials. However, he urged caution in how the court’s comments were portrayed, asking that the Chief Justice's analogy not be reported as a literal accusation against the government's tactics. Chief Justice Kant replied that authorities should "exercise caution in abundance," adding that "there is nothing wrong with that."

Senior Delhi Police officers held high-level meetings at their headquarters to review security plans, with sources indicating that the Supreme Court's warning would be factored into how they manage transport and security throughout the protest.