India's Supreme Court on Sunday, October 11, 2026, found a prima facie case of contempt against authorities over the closure of Delhi Metro stations during protests against the voter-list revision — and issued notices to the alleged contemnors, with counter-affidavits and a compliance report due when the matter is heard on Tuesday, October 13.
The ruling came at a special Sunday sitting of a bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, as the capital braced for a second week of demonstrations over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The contempt finding
The contempt petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, names Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and DMRC Chairperson D Thara. It alleges that Metro stations remained closed during the October 10 protests despite the Court's October 9 order, which had directed authorities to reconsider the proposed closure of 57 stations, permit regulated train operations, and widely publicise any revised decisions.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta disputed the allegation of non-compliance. He submitted that Delhi Metro services had operated normally, though 45 of 303 stations were closed to maintain law and order; that all stations reopened by 10 PM on October 10; and that internet connectivity had been restored. He also told the Court that no one had been illegally detained and that those held had been released.
The Court's finding is prima facie only — a determination that a case of contempt is made out on first impression, not a conviction. The alleged contemnors will respond through counter-affidavits due October 13.
The detention question
Separately, the Court issued notice in a habeas corpus petition alleging illegal detention of protesters, and directed that there be no detention of any individual except in accordance with the procedure established by law; that Metro and rail services function normally; that free movement continue subject to traffic rules; that internet access remain undisturbed; and that barricades and a prohibitory order board outside the Supreme Court be reviewed.
Detention figures are contested and remain untested. Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy told the Court that around 7,000 people were reported detained and 45 detention centres set up, with the state providing no official numbers; Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha's plea alleged over 6,000 detentions, about 250 train cancellations, and 45 Metro station closures on October 10. These are the petitioners' allegations, not judicial findings.
The underlying dispute: the voter-list revision
At the centre of the protests is the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, begun last year. According to Reuters, more than 130 million names have been deleted from voter lists — more than the population of Japan — including the dead, the relocated, and people who could not be traced.
Opposition parties and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party allege the revision could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP and have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Election Commission denies political bias and says voters wrongly deleted can re-enrol. The BJP, in turn, accuses its rivals of undermining democracy by questioning legitimate processes.
The opposition march and the Jantar Mantar question
On October 12, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi led an INDIA-bloc "March for Democracy" from Connaught Place toward the Supreme Court, demanding an end to alleged "vote chori" (vote theft), a halt to the SIR, and the election chief's resignation. Gandhi rode an open bus waving a copy of the Constitution and told reporters, "We will not back down."
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined to meet the marchers, writing that convening such a meeting would contravene the separation of powers; he advised them to invoke the Court's judicial powers instead and assured the earliest possible hearing. That same day, Gandhi and nine to ten other INDIA-bloc leaders filed a writ petition challenging the SIR, seeking its suspension and disclosure of Election Commission files and system logs.
Authorities closed six Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat, for "security reasons" ahead of the march, and imposed traffic restrictions on more than 20 stretches.
Meanwhile, Jantar Mantar — Delhi's long-designated protest venue — was de-notified by a Delhi Police standing order issued October 11, with three alternative venues named: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground. The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a challenge to the closure on October 13.
The Cockroach movement backdrop
The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has been central to the demonstrations. Founder Abhijeet Dipke, 31, along with leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, was detained at Delhi airport on October 10 and released the next day by an executive magistrate on condition of "no breach of peace for one year." Dipke later posted: "October 10 will go down as the beginning of the end of this dictatorship."
The movement began in May as a Gen-Z internet phenomenon and has since forced the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July 2026 — a track record that has made it a political force the establishment can no longer ignore.
With the contempt matter, the habeas corpus petition, and the Jantar Mantar challenge all listed for October 13, Tuesday's hearings will shape how India's judiciary answers the central question of this standoff: where protest rights end and public order begins.
Watch: LIVE: India's opposition parties march to the Supreme Court in protest against mass voter list purge — AP News live coverage from New Delhi of the October 12 opposition march demanding the election chief's resignation after more than 130 million voters were removed from the rolls.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Hitman (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources
- Bar and Bench: Prima facie contempt case made out over Delhi Metro restrictions during protests, says Supreme Court
- NPR (via WEKU): Hundreds detained in voter roll protests in India
- India opposition plans New Delhi protest to demand election chief resign
- Dainik Jagran (English): Global media covers Delhi protests over SIR and CEC