A Ban on Protests at Jantar Mantar - II

Why in news?

• The National Green Tribunal – NGT has recently asked the Delhi government to ban protests at Jantar Mantar.

Why is the order being criticised?

• The residents around Jantar Mantar petitioned the NGT for freeing the roads of alleged nuisance in the area during protests.
• NGT ordered a total ban on protests at Jantar Mantar to remedy it.
• The order is being criticised for being vaguely worded & failing to scrutinise the claims of the petitioners.
• Also, it is outside the tribunal’s scope to have a determinative say in how public spaces are to be used for non-violent dissent.  
• NGT even suggested that Ramlila Maidan as an alternative venue for protests.
• This raises several concerns about the tribunal’s attitude towards use of public spaces for protests.

What is the way forward?

• While the courts or governments can issue guidelines to facilitate better dissent, a ban on locations for protests is in bad taste.
• Notably, Jantar Mantar, has a legacy for various popular protests, that have considerably influenced our polity. 

• Hence, NGT’s order needs to be corrected and the public’s claim over democratic spaces needs to be reasserted.

Source: The Hindu