An entire city cannot be shut down: Supreme Court asks that Delhi metro and trains run in a regulated manner

10 October 2026

Hearing petitions on an urgent mention on 9 October 2026, the Supreme Court said there should be no complete prohibition on the movement of metro trains and railway services in Delhi around the protests announced for 10 October 2026.
The bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said an entire city cannot be shut down over protests and that restrictions must be proportionate.
The Chief Justice said the Court's concern was commuters from Gurugram, Greater Noida, East Delhi and South Delhi, including students, employees and senior citizens, rather than the protesters.
Justice Bagchi observed that reducing the frequency of services can be a regulation, but complete closure is an extreme step.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court he would impress upon the authorities that metro and railway services be allowed in a regulated manner.
The Court also said road closures must be revisited, that free flow of traffic be ensured in areas that do not need regulation, and that the decision be given wide publicity through an advisory in newspapers and on websites.