Delhi Police has de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, ending its 33-year role as a hub for demonstrations, according to multiple reports. The move, effective this week, has sparked backlash from activists who argue it undermines democratic expression.
Delhi Police’s decision to strip Jantar Mantar of its status as an authorized protest venue marks the end of a 33-year tradition, according to reports. The site, located near parliament and historically tied to major social movements, was used for large-scale demonstrations by the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The police cited Supreme Court guidance on infrastructure requirements, but critics say the change risks marginalizing protests by moving them to less accessible, paid venues.
A Historic Site Under New Rules
Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century astronomical observatory, became a protest epicenter in 1993 after the Congress government shifted demonstrations from Boat Club lawns. Over decades, it hosted movements ranging from Bhopal gas disaster survivors to farmers’ rights advocates. Activist Shabnam Hashmi called it a very important space for all protests,
while Delhi Police claimed the move aimed to address infrastructure gaps and local complaints.
The site’s closure followed a confrontation between authorities and anti-government protesters. After a failed attempt by CJP supporters to march there, demanding the resignation of India’s election chief, authorities barred demonstrations, directing protesters to Ramlila Ground and two outer-city venues. Roads leading to our homes are barricaded, there is noise and garbage, and our daily lives are disrupted,
said resident Varun Seth, echoing local grievances. However, activists argue the new locations lack the symbolic proximity to power that made Jantar Mantar effective.
Historian Harleen Kaur has documented that since the 1960s, successive governments implemented regulations that moved protest locations in Delhi further from parliament. The history of the site as a protest location started in 1993, when the ruling Congress government ceased permits for demonstrations at the Boat Club lawns across from the old parliament, as reported.
Legal Battles and Legacy
The Supreme Court had previously overturned a National Green Tribunal shutdown in 2018, citing the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly guaranteed under the constitution. Delhi Police says it acted after the Supreme Court suggested identifying alternative sites with adequate infrastructure. Human rights activist Shabnam Hashmi emphasized the site’s unique role: In a democracy, you require spaces where you can protest.
Protesters have vowed to continue demonstrations, with a protester informing AFP on Tuesday that demonstrators would continue to gather at Jantar Mantar despite the police directive. Meanwhile, human rights groups warn the move reflects a broader trend of shrinking democratic space.
The three alternative sites—two far from parliament, while the third, the sprawling Ramlila Ground—charge tens of thousands of rupees a day, unlike Jantar Mantar, which is free. Activists argue the new venues are often booked months in advance, making them inaccessible to ordinary citizens.
For decades, Jantar Mantar served as a rare intersection of public access and political power. Its closure calls into question how India balances protest rights with urban management, as activists scramble to adapt to new rules while preserving the site's legacy. A protester told AFP on Tuesday that demonstrators would continue to gather at Jantar Mantar despite the police order. With great resolve, we will carry out civil disobedience,
she said. We will sit here and protest,
she added, before being whisked away by police as she attempted to march towards the site.
