New Delhi, Oct 3 (UNI) Clearing the legal decks for organising Ram Leelas and Navratri events in Delhi, the Central government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the prohibitory order, issued by the police to curb protests, has been withdrawn.

The order had barred the assembly of five or more people in the national capital from September 30 to October 5.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra was hearing a plea filed by Sunil, the priest of the Kalkaji temple and secretary of the Manas Naman Sewa Society, which organises Ram Leela at the Satpula Ground in Chirag Delhi.

The prohibitory order was issued by police under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following intelligence inputs about multiple protests and campaigns in the city in the first week of October.

Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told the court, “Police is under the Union…they submit that the prohibitory order has been withdrawn."

The order dated September 30 prohibited the assembly of five or more unauthorised persons, the carrying of firearms, banners, placards, or lathis, and the organisation of picketing or dharnas in public areas.

Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy mentioned Sunil’s plea before the bench, challenging the order of the police commissioner restricting large gatherings in Delhi.



Guruswamy pleaded that the Ram Leela, public gatherings, and pandals cannot happen then.



The CJI assured that the SG has confirmed that the order is withdrawn by the Police.



Guruswamy said, according to the instructions the order will operate till October 5.



According to the plea filed through Senior Advocate Guruswamy and Advocate Prateek Chadha, the petition said the period covered by the prohibitory order coincided with the religiously significant Navratri, which began on October 3.

The petitioner contended that any assembly celebrating the festivities in the areas notified by the order (New Delhi, North Delhi, Central Delhi, and all border areas of the NCT of Delhi) would be adversely affected.

The plea further said that there was no indication of an "urgent" requirement for curtailing civil liberties and had contended that the Delhi Police order did not relate to any emergency or unforeseen circumstances that would necessitate such a curfew.

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