Responding to the request by Supreme Court Bar Association President, the SC chief justice of India Surya Kant has observed that law would intervene in the matter if the metro stations still remained shut after lunch time as the court were already in discussion with Metro authorities.
“If by lunchtime something does not happen to open the Metro station, I will intervene. We have directed that no adverse orders should be passed today for non-appearance of lawyers etc,” the Chief Justice stated.
He further assured the Bar that if the issue remained unresolved, he would personally step in.
The issue was brought to the notice in the top court by Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh. Pointing to the closure of the key stations around the Supreme Court, Singh mentioned that the lawyers and the court staff were facing problems and were unable to reach the court on time. Mentioning the issue, Vikas had requested that persons holding valid Supreme Court entry passes along with the registry staff should be allowed to exit at the Supreme Court metro station after appropriate screening.
Sixteen Delhi Metro stations in central Delhi, including, the Supreme court, Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, ITO and Khan Market were closed on Thursday morning until further instructions for security reasons, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said. The move came as crowds swelled at the Cockroach Janata Party’s ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar.
In a post on X, the DMRC said, “Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh and Shivaji Stadium metro stations have been closed till further instructions.” It added that interchange facilities would remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.
The protest, which is seeking Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and action over examination paper leaks, showed no sign of easing. Demonstrators continued their sit-in at Jantar Mantar for the third consecutive day after the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march.