NEW DELHI: The government on Friday allowed the temporary suspension of internet services within a 4-kilometer radius around the Janpath–Kartavya Path crossing. The decision is part of the Delhi Police’s preventive measures taken in view of the protests being called by various outfits, including the opposition Congres-led INDIA bloc and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).“Internet services will remain suspended within a 4-kilometer radius around the Janpath–Kartavya Path crossing. Services will remain suspended from 10 PM on October 9 to 10 PM on October 10. Instructions have been issued to suspend all forms of mobile internet technology,” the notice said.
Govt order ahead of the protests
Senior Delhi Police officers on Friday also held a high-level meeting at the police headquarters to review the law-and-order situation ahead CJP’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar.The meeting focused on assessing the security situation and reviewing arrangements to maintain law and order in the national capital, they said.Officers also examined recent observations made by the Supreme Court, which are expected to feature in the discussions, sources added.The planned protest has prompted heightened security preparations across Delhi.Of the 13 Delhi-bound trains cancelled by the North Western Railway for Saturday ahead of the protest, most are from Haryana.Though the railways cited “operational reasons” for the cancellation, the move comes ahead of the protests called by the Cockroach Janata Party and other groups in Delhi on October 10, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.On Friday, the Bikaner Division of North Western Railway announced the cancellation of 13 train services bound for Delhi.Delhi Police also proposed closing entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations across the national capital and reducing train frequency at these stations.Hours after the measures disrupting the railways & metro adopted, the Supreme Court orally asked the Centre to ensure that Delhi Metro operations are not completely suspended ahead of the protest, stressing that preventive measures should not cause inconvenience to ordinary commuters.A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana expressed concern over the scheduled closure of 57 Metro stations, observing that the restrictions could affect students, employees and other people dependent on public transport.
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“We are concerned with closure of metro services,” the CJI-led Bench remarked, addressing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre.“One very important principle that we follow for every citizen is the principle of proportionality… You have to prevent certain things. Take measures only to the extent necessary to prevent them. But that does not mean you use a hammer to kill a fly. That principle must be kept in mind,” CJI Kant further told Mehta.The solicitor general said he understands the concerns of the court and will discuss with the authorities concerned, but said that the remark of the CJI on use of a hammer was just an example and it should not be reported that the Chief Justice of India told the government that it is using a hammer to kill a fly.CJI Kant said, “Exercise caution in abundance. There is nothing wrong with that.”
