Delhi High Court Refuses Immediate Permission for Karni Sena Protest, Advises Date Change

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to grant the Kshatriya Karni Sena an instant go‑ahead for its planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on September 6. Justice Amit Mahajan, hearing the petition, said the bench could not issue an order without first hearing the police, who had denied permission.

“What is so sacrosanct about the date? You can change it,” the judge remarked, pointing out that the police’s refusal was still under challenge. Since the bench originally assigned to the case was on leave, Justice Mahajan took it up and directed that the matter be listed again on Monday before a roster bench.

Dr Raj Shekhawat, the head of the Karni Sena, had filed the plea after the Delhi Police sent a communication on August 28 rejecting the group’s request for a peaceful rally. The organization said the protest was meant to voice opposition to recent reservation policies and certain University Grants Commission rules.

The police cited heightened security measures for the upcoming BRICS Summit 2026, scheduled for September 12‑13 at Bharat Mandapam, as well as concerns over law‑and‑order, traffic and crowd control. The Sena argued that the summit venue is far from Jantar Mantar and that its protest would not involve any march toward the summit site.

In its petition, the Sena offered a written undertaking that no procession would move from Jantar Mantar toward any protected route linked to the summit, and it pledged to comply with any reasonable conditions on participants, timing, sound, banners, traffic and security.

Advocates Himanshu Sharma, Abhishek Tyagi and Roshan Dhanai represented the petitioners. The court, while not granting immediate relief, suggested the group simply pick another day for the demonstration and left the issue open for further hearing.