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A contempt petition has been filed in the Supreme Court alleging that authorities continued to shut down Delhi metro stations and restrict public transport services in violation of the Court's October 9 order, which directed that there should be no complete prohibition on transport services to handle the October 10 protests announced by CJP and opposition parties against the Chief Election Commissioner.

The petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi (who was one of the petitioners who sought an independent probe into the violence during the July Jantar Mantar student protests), seeks initiation of contempt proceedings against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan IAS, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar IPS and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Chairperson D Thara IAS for allegedly wilfully disobeying the Court's directions.

The petitioner alleges that the authorities continued with the arbitrary closure of Metro stations and unwarranted cancellation of train services despite the Supreme Court directing that public transport should be permitted to operate in a regulated manner to avoid inconvenience to Delhi residents.

The petition contends that the continued restrictions have severely "crippled public life" in the national capital and caused hardship to commuters.

"Notwithstanding the solemn judicial mandate and the assurance recorded before the Bench of Hon'ble the Chief Justice, the Contemnors have consciously maintained a blanket shutdown across transit corridors, persisted with unwarranted train cancellations, and failed to issue or publicize transparent traffic and transit advisories. This deliberate recalcitrance has severely crippled public life across the National Capital Territory, stranding essential travelers, and amounts to an intentional attempt to bypass and undermine the authority and majesty of this Hon'ble Court," the petitioner stated.

The contempt petition arises from the Supreme Court's order passed on October 9 in MA Baby v. Union of India, in which a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana considered the restrictions imposed on Metro and railway services in view of proposed protests at Jantar Mantar.

The Court had taken note of communications issued by the Delhi Police directing the DMRC to close 57 Metro stations and another communication concerning the cancellation of Mail and Express trains arriving at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations.

Observing that the notifications appeared to be "overreaching" as they amounted to a complete ban on essential public transportation, the Court clarified that there should be no outright prohibition on the movement of Metro trains, while permitting the authorities to regulate their operations in a suitable manner consistent with the principle of proportionality.

Contempt petitioner alleges arbitrary shutdown of metro stations

In the contempt petition, Tripathi claimed that he visited GTB Nagar and Vishwavidyalaya Metro stations at around 9:30 pm on October 9 and found that entry gates had been closed, with exit being permitted through manually regulated gates.

He alleged that Gate No. 2 at GTB Nagar Metro station was locked and that Gate Nos. 1 and 3 were also either closed or being regulated to allow only passengers to exit. The petitioner stated that he recorded a video of the situation at GTB Nagar station and can provide it with real-time location details.

The petition further stated that the DMRC announced through its official X account that entry and exit at the concerned Metro stations would remain closed from 9 pm on October 9 until 6 pm on October 10, subject to review by security agencies. According to the petitioner, the subsequent announcement reduced the number of stations to be closed from 57 to 45, but continued the restrictions.

Tripathi alleged that the continued closure of station gates, despite the Supreme Court's order, amounts to wilful and deliberate disobedience of the Court's directions.

He also claimed that he visited Jantar Mantar and nearby areas at around 8:30 pm on October 9 and found only police and paramilitary personnel present, questioning the justification for continuing the blanket restrictions on Metro station access.

 As an interim measure, the petition seeks directions to revoke blanket prohibitory orders affecting Metro and railway operations and ensure that services operate under a regulated schedule, with immediate public notice.

The petition is filed through AoR Chand Qureshi.

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