CEC row LIVE updates: Supreme Court questions closure of metro stations on October 10, flags commuters' hardship

INDIA Bloc leaders to meet President at 8 p.m. with their demand for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation

Updated - October 09, 2026 03:29 pm IST

Supreme Court. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Supreme Court on Friday (October 9, 2026) said the right to association and to protest peacefully is a fundamental right of every citizen, while reacting to a mention by senior lawyers of the apex court about the unprecedented “shutting down” of the national capital a day ahead of the CJP protests for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 10.

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Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc leaders will meet President Droupadi Murmu at 8 p.m. on Friday (October 9) in connection with their demand for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

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Ahead of the October 10 protest in Delhi, several groups, including the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), on Thursday (October 8, 2026) alleged that protesters were being picked up from across the country. CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka said Deepak Baliyan, the organisation’s co-in-charge, had been detained in Rajasthan. He claimed that thousands of volunteers had been detained in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

INDIA bloc leaders will meet President Droupadi Murmu at 8 p.m. on Friday (October 9) in connection with their demand for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

According to sources, the President’s office confirmed the appointment on Friday morning.

The opposition delegation will include Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, TMC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

The leaders would first meet at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan at 5 p.m., and may stage another protest against “vote chori”, sources said.

CJP protest: Trains to two Delhi stations cancelled from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 10

Trains to New Delhi and Nizamuddin cancelled Oct 10 morning ahead of CJP protest; police nix Jantar Mantar site permission and DMRC shutdown plans.

Advocate Vrinda Grover says police cannot go to hostels. Sankaranarayanan says police have no business asking people not to participate in protests. Senior Advocate C.U. Singh says there is no anticipatory stoppage of the right to protest. He says the government order says trains have been stopped due to the “likelihood of an unruly mob”.

Justice Bagchi said the government can regulate the movement of public transport, but not stop it altogether. He says the stoppage of metro for blocks of time throughout the day amounts to a ban.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta says he has to consult with the law enforcement agencies concerned.

The Chief Justice Kant asks whether the government can identify an “open space” for protests in the national capital. Mr. Sibal says Ramlila Maidan was taken away.

Prashant Bhushan says that when the police refused permission for Jantar Mantar, why did they not give an alternative at Ramlila Maidan?

Mr. Sibal says Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site.

CJI said there are a lot of problems for protestors too presently. Very cramped, no toilets, drinking water facilities, etc., for them.

Supreme Court presses for the government to relook restrictions on metro, public transport, and rail facilities.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta counters that there is a background to all this. On June 20, permission was sought by the protest organisers. A written undertaking was given by the organisers to vacate in one day, but it continued for 17 days.

He said, during that time, there were several penal violations. They tried to reach the Parliament, which is not a political building; it is a symbol of sovereignty. 200-plus police officers were injured. Picture that the entire city is paralysed. internet is closed. Internet closure only from Raisina Road to a four km radius, that too, selectively. Women police officers were molested.

For security reasons, entry and exit at several Delhi Metro stations will remain closed from 9 p.m. on October 9 and throughout October 10, 2026, until further notice. Interchange facilities will remain available at all the affected stations, except New Delhi Metro station.