NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday defended the security measures and restrictions imposed in Delhi ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s planned protest on October 10, telling the Supreme Court that the steps were necessary to ensure the safety of residents.However, the court expressed concern over the disruption to public transport, cautioning authorities against going overboard in the name of security.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, argued that law enforcement agencies had to take preventive measures in view of the planned demonstration against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Referring to recent protests in the national capital, Centre alleged that “women police personnel had been molested, attacked and injured,” over the last few days.The submission brought Congress leader Rahul Gandhi into the spotlight once again, after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party accused the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha of behaving “inappropriately” with a woman police officer during a protest a day earlier.BJP leader Kesavan had criticised Rahul over the alleged incident, asking, “How can any decent individual, let alone a member of parliament or a leader of the opposition, behave in such an inappropriate manner with a woman, and that too, a female police personnel?”However, the top court questioned the extent of the restrictions imposed in the capital, particularly the proposed closure of Metro stations and disruption to railway services ahead of Saturday’s protest.“Exercise caution, there’s nothing wrong with that. Police are responsible for maintaining law and order,” the court observed on the security arrangements for the October 10 demonstration.Taking up the issue of Metro station closures, the court cautioned that security measures should not bring daily life to a standstill.
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“Law enforcement agencies can’t bring everything to halt & leave people without any transport facility,” it said.The court also questioned whether the restrictions were proportionate to the threat, remarking, “One should not use hammer to kill fly,” while referring to the closure of Delhi Metro stations ahead of the CJP protest.The hearing came amid heightened security across the national capital, with authorities stepping up arrangements and imposing restrictions in wake of the October 10 protest demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
