Supreme Court sees prima facie contempt in Delhi metro shutdown case

news The Supreme Court provided notifications over supposed defiance of its order versus a total Delhi transit shutdown throughout the CJP demonstration. The relocation puts the Centre, Delhi Police and DMRC under analysis over residents’ movement rights and court compliance.

Newdelhi,Oct 11, 2026 20:20 IST

The Supreme Court on Sunday stated petitioners declaring infraction of its instructions versus any total stop of city and train services in Delhi throughout a CJP demonstration had actually constructed out a “prima-facie” case. Throughout an unique hearing, a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana provided notifications to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and DMRC Chairperson D Thara.

The bench asked the supposed contemnors to submit counter-affidavits, in addition to a compliance report on the court’s earlier order, by October 13, 2026. It stated, “Having considered the submissions of the counsel for the parties and perused the averments in the contempt petition, we are of the opinion that the petitioners have made out a prima-facie case. Accordingly, we issue notice upon the alleged contemnors.” The court included that their individual existence was ignored in the meantime.

Among the pleas, submitted by supporter Shailendra Mani Tripathi, declared that the actions of the authorities totaled up to a “brutal assault on the fundamental rights of citizens” and revealed “sheer disregard” for the court’s orders. The plea stated this was a purposeful and deliberate act by the Delhi Metro, the Delhi Police and the Union federal government, and “it must be dealt with an iron hand”

The contempt petition described the Supreme Court’s October 9 order, passed while hearing a different plea versus the closure of 57 city stations and the cancellation of trains to Delhi since of the demonstration. The demonstration call had actually been provided by the Cockroach Janta Party and some trainee organisations versus Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over supposed abnormalities in the performance of the Election Commission.

While hearing the matter on Friday, a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Bagchi and Mohana had actually directed the Centre to make sure there was no “complete prohibition” on the motion of cities and trains pertaining to Delhi on October 10 since of the demonstration. The court had actually stated that while law-enforcement firms were entitled to take actions to limit rowdy motion, people need to not be unduly pestered and whatever might not be given a stop.

The contempt plea stated that regardless of the court’s instructions and the guarantee taped before it, the authorities had “consciously maintained a blanket shutdown across transit corridors, persisted with unwarranted train cancellations, and failed to issue or publicise transparent traffic and transit advisories”The Delhi Metro, on the other hand, had actually closed 45 stations from 9 pm on Friday till 6 pm on Saturday for security factors, according to an advisory.

The case now centres on whether the authorities adhered to the Supreme Court’s instructions to prevent a total shutdown of Delhi’s city and train services throughout the demonstration, with the court looking for reactions and a compliance report by October 13, 2026.

– Ends