Jantar Mantar Protest Venue Scrutiny

Notes

• Jantar Mantar has served as a primary protest site in Delhi for over three decades, located near Parliament.
• The site is not the 18th-century monument itself, but the road intersection at Jantar Mantar Road and Sansad Marg.
• Historically, the Boat Club lawns were the primary protest venue until security concerns following large rallies in the late 1980s led to their closure.
• Delhi Police Standing Order 309 (2003) formalized protest sites based on crowd size: Jantar Mantar (<5,000), Ramlila Maidan (5,000-50,000), Burari grounds (50,000+), and Narela for larger gatherings.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered a ban on protests at Jantar Mantar in 2017 citing noise pollution, traffic congestion, and its status as a residential area in the Delhi Master Plan.
• In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that public protests cannot be completely banned, directing authorities to balance the right to protest with the rights of residents.
• Delhi Police Standing Order 10 (2018) currently limits Jantar Mantar to 1,000 people, requiring prior permission and compliance with guidelines on noise and security.
• Ramlila Maidan is considered an 'ideal' secure venue by authorities but involves a daily cost of approximately ₹50,000, unlike the free-of-cost Jantar Mantar.

Part of a longer story

This is day 11 of 25 in Protests against police conduct and state security measures, which has been running since 25 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

• Delhi High Court on Jantar Mantar protests Before
• Delhi police harassment allegations After
• The whole story 25 entries