Status: Interim order passed. Supreme Court orders normal Metro, rail and internet services and free movement in Delhi. Last updated 12:20 IST, October 11, 2026.
The Supreme Court is holding a special Sunday sitting to hear petitions against the Delhi Police action during Saturday’s protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana is hearing the matters.
What the court is hearing
- A contempt petition against Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar over alleged detention and assault of protesters
- A plea against the closure of Metro stations and cancellation of trains during the protests
- A habeas corpus petition by Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy against the detention of political leaders
- Petitions by RJD MP Manoj Jha and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA)
Live updates
12:20 IST
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Order passed: The Supreme Court ordered that Metro and rail services function normally and that internet services remain undisturbed as per law. It also directed that free movement of people and traffic be allowed and that the need for barricades be reviewed.
12:15 IST
Notice issued: The bench first proposed asking the authorities to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be started. After the Solicitor General asked for notice instead, the court issued notice to the alleged contemnors to file an affidavit in response.
12:12 IST
In the order, the bench recorded that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta denied the allegations. He said the Delhi Metro functioned normally, though some entry points were closed, with 45 of 303 stations affected.
12:11 IST
More than 200 NLSIU alumni issued a statement condemning the police action against protesters on October 10, including the alleged detention and manhandling of NLSIU alumni and Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat.
12:04 IST
The bench began dictating its order. It recorded the oral mentions in related petitions with similar prayers, and noted Menaka Guruswamy’s submission that Metro stations including GTB Nagar and Vishwavidyalaya were affected.
12:01 IST
KK Venugopal described the detention of a woman by officers without badges, who he said picked her up and dropped her elsewhere. Justice Bagchi said the State must be given a chance to explain the circumstances and manner of the alleged detention and its justification.
11:55 IST
Kapil Sibal said trains were supposed to be allowed but were not. He sought an interim order that trains from across the country be allowed to reach Delhi, and said there can be no Section 163 orders, detentions, traffic restrictions or barricades outside the 4 km zone.
11:50 IST
A counsel objected to prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS around the Supreme Court, saying they were not aware of the order. Gopal Sankaranarayanan said a board outside the court shows Section 163 in force on Bhagwan Dass Road. Justice Bagchi said not being informed of the order could be a ground to challenge it.
11:49 IST
Big update: The Supreme Court said it will pass an interim order directing that Metro services run normally unless a law and order situation arises, that the public be allowed to move freely, that internet services be restored, and that lawyers not be obstructed in their professional duties.
11:47 IST
Counsel told the court that 47 Metro stations were closed or restricted. Justice Bagchi noted that the authorities had initially proposed closing 57 stations and later 47, and asked them to show the locations of the 47 stations on a map in their response or compliance report.
11:45 IST
Guruswamy read out the reliefs sought and said there were blockades around the Supreme Court itself. Senior Advocate Arundhati Katju said people could not exercise their right to free speech and peaceful protest, and that it was for the State to answer. She said the petitioners had come to court because they have faith in it.
11:35 IST
A separate public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking judicial review of the suspension of mobile internet within a 4 km radius of the Janpath and Kartavya Path crossing in central Delhi on October 9 and 10.
11:31 IST
Guruswamy told the court that journalists and others were taken to multiple holding sites. She argued that earlier judgments allow Article 19 rights to be suspended only during an emergency.
11:30 IST
Menaka Guruswamy said the contempt petition is the first item and the habeas corpus plea will follow. Justice Bagchi said the court has noted the contempt averments and proposed asking the alleged contemnor to file a compliance report and response by Tuesday.
11:26 IST
Justice Bagchi said the petitions by KK Venugopal and SCAORA were detailed. Senior Advocate Shoeb Alam said the matter concerns fundamental rights under Article 19. Justice Bagchi responded that restrictions begin with Article 19(2), which permits reasonable regulation, not a ban.
11:19 IST
Counsel for a lawyers’ foundation sought to be made a party to the case.
11:13 IST
Sanjay Hegde said the Supreme Court functions through its Advocates-on-Record, and that preventing lawyers from doing their work directly affects the dignity of the court.
11:11 IST
Sankaranarayanan asked the court to order immediate restoration of free movement in Delhi, removal of barricades and resumption of Metro services, without waiting for notice to be issued.
11:09 IST
Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted video evidence on a pen drive. He said lawyers, including Shadan Farasat, were detained far from Jantar Mantar, and that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS had been imposed even outside the Supreme Court.
11:07 IST
Senior Advocate Hariharan said practising lawyers were unable to move around the city. The bench asked counsel to file additional material through formal applications.
11:04 IST
Sibal said Manoj Jha’s petition includes a prayer for interim relief. Shadan Farasat said the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) has also filed a petition. He told the court he was himself assaulted on Saturday and described the situation in Delhi as suppressive.
11:01 IST
The bench noted that the Solicitor General did not yet have copies of all the petitions. Kapil Sibal told the court that people were picked up from trains and from areas outside the 4 km restricted zone, and that internet services were suspended.
10:59 IST
Senior Advocate KK Venugopal mentioned a separate contempt plea. Justice Bagchi said a similar petition was already before the court and proposed listing his matter on Monday. On his request for notice, the bench said it would decide after hearing the Solicitor General.
10:56 IST
Justice Bagchi said the court would give every lawyer making a mention a chance to be heard, taking them in turn.
10:53 IST
The bench assembled. More than 1,000 people joined the virtual hearing.
10:51 IST
Senior Advocates Sanjay Hegde and Shadan Farasat are also appearing for the petitioners.
10:47 IST
The virtual hearing link was opened to participants.
10:42 IST
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta joined the proceedings along with senior Delhi Police officers. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Menaka Guruswamy, and Advocate Vrinda Grover are expected to argue for the petitioners. The virtual hearing link reached full capacity.
10:32 IST
The court initially restricted the virtual hearing facility. Lawyers for the petitioners said they would not argue unless video conferencing was allowed. The court decided to hold the proceedings in Court No. 5.
10:10 IST
Lawyers asked the Court Master not to switch off the live stream of the hearing for technical reasons.
08:48 IST
A contempt petition has been filed against Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar. It alleges that police detained and assaulted unarmed citizens, manhandled women protesters and worked without visible name tags. RJD MP Manoj Jha has also moved the court.
08:21 IST
The Supreme Court announced a special Sunday sitting at 10:30 am. A bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana will hear a contempt petition over the closure of Metro stations and cancellation of trains during Saturday’s anti-CEC protests, and a habeas corpus petition by Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy against the detention of political leaders.
08:11 IST
Before the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said, speaking for himself, that he does not have much trust in the Supreme Court, citing the lack of relief in the SIR voter roll cases. He appeared for the petitioners in the hearing later in the day.
Background
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Delhi Police denied permission, shut several Metro stations and detained thousands of people, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released on Sunday on the condition of no breach of peace for one year.
Courtroom updates based on live reporting by LiveLaw.
Frequently asked questions
Which bench is hearing the case?
A bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana is hearing the matter in a special Sunday sitting.
What are the petitions about?
They challenge the Delhi Police action during the anti-CEC protests on October 10, 2026, including mass detentions, alleged assault on protesters, the closure of Metro stations and cancellation of trains, and the detention of political leaders.
Who is appearing in the case?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta is appearing for the Centre. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Menaka Guruswamy, Sanjay Hegde and Shadan Farasat are among those appearing for the petitioners.
