Supreme Court Raises Commuter Concerns, Urges Centre to Avoid Complete Delhi Metro Shutdown Ahead of Protest

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, raised the issue during a hearing, questioning the need for restrictions that could disrupt the daily travel of students, employees and other passengers dependent on the Metro.

Addressing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre, the Bench emphasised that public transport services should not be brought to a complete halt in the name of security arrangements.

The court observed that thousands of people travel daily from Greater Noida and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) for work, education and other essential activities. It said authorities could consider reducing the frequency of Metro services or introducing other operational restrictions instead of shutting stations entirely.

The Bench asked Mehta to take up the matter with the government immediately and explore measures that would allow commuters to continue accessing public transport while maintaining law and order.

Responding to the court's concerns, the Solicitor General assured the Bench that he would discuss the issue with the government. He also indicated that the restrictions could be reviewed periodically and adjusted according to the prevailing situation.

The Supreme Court observed that preventive measures could be necessary to address potential security concerns, but stressed that such arrangements should remain proportionate and should not unnecessarily disrupt essential public services.

The hearing comes amid preparations for a proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10 by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), seeking accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Delhi Police has denied permission for the demonstration, citing concerns over public safety, traffic management and law and order. Authorities have also stated that restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force in the New Delhi area.

Apart from the proposed closure of 57 Metro stations, several trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations on October 10 have reportedly been cancelled or rescheduled, adding to concerns over potential travel disruptions.

The Supreme Court's observations underline the need to balance security requirements with the public's ability to access essential transport services. The matter remained under consideration at the time of reporting.