Plea Filed In Supreme Court Against Imposition Of Section 163 Of BNSS In Delhi

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the prohibitory order issued by the Delhi Police under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) banning assembly of five or more persons, dharnas, protests, etc in Delhi from September 30 to October 5.The petition has been filed by a priest of the Kalkaji temple and the Secretary of the Manas Naman Sewa Society, which organises the grand Ramlila fair at the Satpula Ground in Chirag Delhi. The priest has contended that the order by Delhi Police will obstruct festivals and Ramlila schedule which was to begin from October 3, the LiveLaw reported.Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk along with several padyatris from Ladakh was detained from Delhi border while they were on a 'Delhi Chalo' March. The activist was detained because of the prohibitory order from Delhi Police. Wangchuk and 150 Ladakhis were again detained today after they were released by the Delhi Police late Tuesday night.A PIL has allready been filed in the Delhi High Court against the detention. Now, a plea has also been filed against imposition of Section 163 of BNSS by police, which had lead to Wangchuk's detention.Wangchuk and other volunteers embarked on a foot march from Leh to New Delhi on September 1 to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with Ladakh's leadership regarding their demands. Before being detained, the activist shared the news of his detention through microblogging website 'X' and said "I am being detained along with 150 padyatris at Delhi Border, by a police force of 100s some say 1000. Many elderly men & women in their 80s and few dozen Army veterans...Our fate is unknown."One of their key demands is for Ladakh to be included in the sixth schedule of the Constitution, which would grant law-making powers to the local population which they say will help them protect their land and cultural identity. They are also seeking separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.The Delhi Police on Monday (September 30) announced the implementation of Section 163 of BNSS at various locations in Delhi, in response to intelligence regarding the increased probability of protests, demonstrations, and campaigns by several organisations across the city in the first week of October 2024.The Delhi Police statement stated that the decision, mentioning the sensitive atmosphere in Delhi due to the current law and order situation, particularly in light of ongoing political tensions over various issues such as proposed amendments to the Waqf Board, the Shahi Idgah issue, pending DUSU election results, assembly elections in two states, and upcoming festivals. Consequently, the Delhi Police has enforced Section 163 of BNSS in the districts of New Delhi, North, and Central, as well as police stations with jurisdiction over Delhi's state borders, for a period of six days.