Politics · India Bureau
Supreme Court Orders Delhi Metro, Railways to Maintain Normal Operations During Protests
India's apex court has directed Delhi's public transport authorities to keep metro and rail services operational despite ongoing protest-related petitions. The bench clarified that while services may be regulated to preserve public order, complete suspension remains impermissible.
LSN India ·
The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the matter of Delhi's public transportation services, issuing directions to ensure that metro and railway operations continue uninterrupted amid a series of petitions related to ongoing protests in the national capital.
In its order, the bench acknowledged that transport authorities possess the discretionary power to regulate services where necessary to maintain public order and prevent disruption. However, the court made explicit that such regulatory measures must fall short of outright suspension of services.
The ruling addresses concerns raised through multiple petitions regarding the impact of protest-related disruptions on the city's commuters and the broader functioning of essential services. The court's directive seeks to balance the right to protest with the public's entitlement to access basic transportation infrastructure.
The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the judiciary's role in ensuring that extraordinary measures affecting essential services are proportionate and justified. Transport authorities have been instructed to implement any necessary restrictions judiciously while maintaining the backbone of Delhi's mobility infrastructure for millions of daily commuters.
The order is expected to remain in force pending further hearings on the substantive issues raised in the petitions before the court.