Jantar Mantar, one of New Delhi's best-known locations for political demonstrations and public campaigns, is no longer a designated protest venue under a new Delhi Police order. Authorities have instead identified three alternative grounds for organising demonstrations and sit-ins.
The order was issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11, 2026, and became public the following day. It follows recommendations from a committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to examine alternative locations for protests and demonstrations.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Jantar Mantar has been removed from Delhi's list of designated protest venues.
Location: New Delhi, with alternative venues at Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi.
Authority/Organisation: Delhi Police, following recommendations from a committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Action Taken: Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order dated October 11, 2026, partially modifying the earlier 2022 standing order. Revised procedures for the three replacement venues are to be issued separately.
Impact: Organisers will need to check the new venue arrangements and applicable permission requirements before planning demonstrations.
The three designated venues are Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi. Delhi Police has said that detailed and revised standard operating procedures governing demonstrations at these locations will be issued separately.
The decision partially modifies an earlier standing order dated April 28, 2022, which had identified Jantar Mantar as a designated site. The change alters the official locations available for organised demonstrations, although the precise procedures for using the replacement venues remain subject to further instructions.
Where can people hold demonstrations now?
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The decision changes the official locations available for organised demonstrations in the national capital. It has practical implications for political parties, students, unions, campaign groups and members of the public who wish to assemble peacefully. The central question now is how the replacement venues and revised procedures will work in practice. Clear rules, accessible locations and transparent permission arrangements will matter for both public-order management and the effective exercise of constitutional rights.
The three newly designated locations are spread across different parts of Delhi. Their locations may affect how demonstrators travel, organise gatherings and coordinate with authorities.
Ramlila Ground: Located in the central part of Delhi, this is one of the capital's established venues for large public gatherings.
Burari Ground: Located in North Delhi, it provides an alternative outside the immediate central-government district.
CBD Ground, East Delhi: Located in East Delhi, it adds a designated option on the eastern side of the capital.
The availability of these venues does not necessarily mean every proposed demonstration can proceed automatically. Organisers should check the applicable permission requirements, venue-specific conditions and updated police instructions before arranging an event.
Why was Jantar Mantar removed from the list?
According to the police order, a committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs examined alternative venues where citizens could organise protests and demonstrations. Delhi Police said the change was based on the committee's recommendations.
The announcement came during a period of heightened political demonstrations in the capital, including protests over electoral-roll revisions and demands concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
However, the stated administrative basis for the change is the committee's review of alternative venues. The order itself should not be treated as proof that the government has prohibited every form of protest throughout central Delhi, nor does it establish that all demonstrations will be refused permission.
The detailed rationale, venue-management arrangements and practical permission process will become clearer through the revised operating procedures and subsequent official instructions.
What does this mean for the right to protest?
The removal of a designated venue and a blanket ban on peaceful assembly are not the same thing. The Constitution protects the right to assemble peacefully and without arms under Article 19(1)(b), subject to constitutionally permitted reasonable restrictions.
Authorities can regulate public gatherings on grounds recognised by law, including public order. But the legality of a particular restriction depends on the applicable rules, the circumstances and the way those rules are implemented.
The change in designated venues therefore does not, by itself, establish that the constitutional right to protest has been abolished. At the same time, the practical ability to exercise that right may depend on access to suitable locations, the permission process, travel requirements and any restrictions imposed on a specific event.
The revised procedures will be important because they should clarify how organisers apply to use the new venues, what conditions may apply and how authorities will handle competing requests.
Why the location matters
Jantar Mantar became a nationally recognised site for public demonstrations partly because of its central location and its association with campaigns on political, social and economic issues. Moving organised demonstrations to other grounds could change the logistics of public mobilisation.
Organisers may need to reassess transport arrangements, accessibility for participants, communication with police and the practical distance between a protest venue and the institution or issue being addressed.
The change may also affect nearby residents, businesses, commuters and public services. The scale of any effect will depend on the size of gatherings, traffic arrangements and how demonstrations are managed at the alternative sites.
A shift in venue does not necessarily reduce participation, but it can alter how a demonstration is organised and how easily participants, journalists and observers can reach it.
What organisers should check before planning a protest
People and organisations planning demonstrations should confirm the latest official instructions rather than relying on older information referring to Jantar Mantar.
They should verify the designated venue, the applicable permission procedure, any advance-application requirements, restrictions on numbers or equipment, and instructions on traffic, sound systems and public safety. They should also check whether revised standard operating procedures have been published for the three replacement grounds.
Political parties, student groups, unions and civil-society organisations may have different operational needs, but the applicable official conditions should be checked for each proposed gathering. No organiser should assume that designation of a ground guarantees automatic approval for every event.
