Supreme Court notice to Centre on closure of Metro stations’ during CJP protest

The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 10, 2026) sought a response from the Centre on a petition questioning the closure of 17 Delhi Metro stations during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests held in Central Delhi over the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leaks.

The agitation had ultimately led to the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued notice to the respondents Union and Delhi governments, the Delhi Police, and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on the petition filed by Sparsh Kant Nayak, a resident of the national capital.

The court initially pointed out that the role of judicial review in the subject matter was limited as the issue of maintaining law and order came within the domain of the Executive.

Justice Joyalya Bagchi, on the Bench, said the court would intervene only if the Executive’s exercise of discretionary powers were found to be grossly disproportionate.

The court, however, agreed to hear the respondents on whether the exercise of powers was within reasonable limits and in public interest.

“Standard Operating Procedures in such cases are actually a mirage. When it comes to such questions, courts have deferred to the executive authority. It is only when it becomes disproportionate that courts step in. So we will have to examine the way in which the discretion is being exercised,” Justice Bagchi said.

The closure of the metro stations citing security reasons had hit commuter traffic gravely and affected the public’s right to move freely in the national capital. The petition said there was no provision in the Metro Railways Act that permitted the shutting down of stations. It said the communication about the closure was made through social media. The plea questioned if there was any statutory procedure for shutting down metro stations.

The court, at one point during the hearing, remarked that traffic and commuter restrictions were usually issued by the Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police as per the relevant laws.