Newdelhi, Oct 12, 2026: Delhi Police has officially de-notified Jantar Mantar Road as an authorized site for public demonstrations under a standing order issued by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11. The decision replaces the historic protest hub with three new locations: Ramlila Maidan in Central Delhi, Burari Ground in North Delhi, and CBD Ground in East Delhi, thereby altering the landscape for public dissent in the capital.
For decades following independence, large-scale demonstrations centered around the Boat Club lawns near India Gate and Vijay Chowk, as well as areas behind the Red Fort. A pivotal moment occurred in October 1988, when farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait brought thousands of farmers and their livestock to the Boat Club lawns, occupying the space for days to pressure the central government. Security concerns, traffic disruption, and the proximity to vital government installations eventually prompted authorities to restrict gatherings there, leading to the emergence of Jantar Mantar as an alternative site by 1993.
Jantar Mantar offered a balance, providing proximity to centers of power while remaining more manageable for authorities than the Boat Club lawns. In a 2018 Supreme Court judgment involving the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and the Union of India, the court noted that police had previously relocated demonstrations due to traffic blockages. The police had formally designated Jantar Mantar for groups of up to 5,000 people, directing larger crowds to Ramlila Maidan. Over the years, the site hosted countless protests organized by political parties, student unions, labor groups, and activists addressing corruption, women's safety, and policy reforms.
Originally built in 1724 as an astronomical observatory by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II under Mughal rule, Jantar Mantar features massive masonry instruments designed to track celestial movements. Over centuries, the adjacent road transformed into a prominent venue for civic engagement and public grievances. However, rising demonstration frequency brought complaints from local residents regarding noise pollution, accumulated waste, and extended encampments.
In October 2017, the National Green Tribunal banned protests at Jantar Mantar and ordered a shift to Ramlila Maidan. Although the Supreme Court overturned the blanket ban in July 2018, ruling that a total prohibition violated the right to protest, it mandated strict regulatory guidelines concerning crowd sizes, loudspeaker use, and the prevention of prolonged stays. Following that directive, limited protests resumed under police supervision.
The latest directive to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of authorized sites stems from evaluations by a committee established by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. By implementing the committee's findings, authorities have formally transitioned official demonstration rights to the Ramlila, Burari, and CBD grounds, marking another chapter in the capital's evolving history of public assembly.