Kapil Sibal questions imposition of Section 163 and detention of peaceful protesters

By The Hindu

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Addressing a press conference, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned the widespread preventive detentions and invocation of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita across various States to prevent citizens and lawyers from holding a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Criticising the police action, Sibal highlighted instances where individuals travelling from Karnataka, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh were intercepted at railway stations and airports. He specifically raised the detention of advocates in Delhi, noting that an urgent plea filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate against illegal confinement remained pending without an immediate order. Emphasising that peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy, Sibal argued that restricting train movement, shutting metro stations, and curtailing internet access cannot be justified under the pretext of public order. He also voiced concern over voter list discrepancies, questioning the lack of timely judicial relief

Tags: Chief Judicial Magistrate, Civil Liberties, Delhi Police, Democratic Rights, Jantar Mantar Protest, Legal Scrutiny, Peaceful Demonstration, Preventive Detention, Public Order, Section 144 CrPC, Section 163 BNSS, Supreme Court of India, Tara Narula, Undisclosed Detention, Voter Deletions