Supreme Court Faces Contempt Plea Over Metro Shutdowns Amid Protests

A contempt petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court, claiming that authorities have continued to shut down metro stations in Delhi and limit public transport services, in direct violation of a court order issued on October 9. This order mandated that transport services should not be completely halted during the protests scheduled for October 10, organized by the Chief Justice of India and opposition parties against the Chief Election Commissioner.

The petition, brought forth by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, who previously sought an independent investigation into violence during student protests in July, calls for contempt proceedings against key officials, including Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and DMRC Chairperson D Thara. The petitioner argues that these officials have willfully disregarded the Supreme Court's directives, which emphasized the need for regulated public transport to minimize disruption for residents.

Tripathi contends that the ongoing restrictions have significantly disrupted daily life in the capital, causing considerable difficulties for commuters. He stated, "Despite the clear judicial mandate, the authorities have maintained a blanket shutdown across transit corridors and continued with unwarranted train cancellations, which has severely crippled public life."

The contempt petition stems from the Supreme Court's ruling on October 9 in the case of MA Baby v. Union of India, where the court addressed the restrictions placed on metro and railway services due to anticipated protests. The court noted that directives from the Delhi Police to close 57 metro stations and cancel several train services were excessive, amounting to a complete ban on essential transportation. The court clarified that while authorities could regulate metro operations, there should be no outright prohibition.

In his petition, Tripathi reported visiting metro stations on the evening of October 9, where he observed that entry gates were closed, with only limited exits available. He documented the situation at GTB Nagar Metro station, where he found locked gates and restricted access. The DMRC later announced that metro services would remain closed from 9 PM on October 9 until 6 PM on October 10, although the number of stations affected was reduced from 57 to 45. Tripathi argues that these actions represent a deliberate disobedience of the court's orders and seeks immediate restoration of regulated metro services to alleviate public inconvenience.