No protests allowed outside Arvind Kejriwal’s house this month

Protests and demonstrations outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s house are banned all August, the sub-divisional magistrate of Civil Lines ordered on Tuesday.

Protests and demonstrations outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s house are banned all August, the sub-divisional magistrate of Civil Lines ordered on Tuesday.

Guest teachers protesting for permanent jobs outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence at Flag Staff Road in New Delhi last December. (Sushil Kumar/Hindustan Times)

“As reported by the Police authorities, lot of applications of demonstrations, protests, dharnas etc in front of the residence of Chief Minister have been received from various groups and political parties. The month of August has many festivals such as Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, Parsi New Year and Janamashthmi etc. People in general visit the Chief Minister. Therefore, it is apprehended that any demonstration protests or dharna etc will create public nuisance and serious law and order problems. It will also cause obstruction to the vehicular traffic movement, danger to human life and public property (sic),” the order states.

Guest teachers and opposing political parties have been holding regular dharnas outside the CM House on Flag Staff Road for the past many months.

“The CM is not even in the city as of now, why do people want to go outside his house? In any case, when Independence Day is close there are restrictions across the city. What is the problem if there is a restriction on another road,” said Delhi minister Satyender Jain. Kejriwal is in Dharamsala for Vipassana meditation classes.

The order, imposing Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, prohibits holding public meetings, assembly of five or more persons, carrying firearms, banners, placards, lathis, spears, swords, sticks, brickbats, shouting slogans, making speeches, processions/demonstrations and dharnas.