NEW DELHI: Senior advocate and former Union minister Kapil Sibal on Saturday remarked that he had “no hope” of getting relief from the courts, describing the Supreme Court as the only institution capable of “saving the Constitution.”“I don’t know which direction this country is heading. I don’t know if we will ever get relief from the court. If anyone can save the Constitution, it is the Supreme Court. We are tired of going to the courts. I don’t see any benefit in going; I have no hope,” Sibal said at a press conference.“Announcements had been made days in advance that people would reach Jantar Mantar on October 10th to stage a protest. Who exactly was under threat? I do not know.His remarks came as Delhi Police imposed sweeping restrictions across the national capital ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth pressure group, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The protest could not be held due to stringent restrictions and the detention of CJP’s top leaders after they arrived at Delhi airport from Mumbai. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters were detained as they attempted to march to Jantar Mantar, Delhi’s designated protest venue, where the group had planned to demonstrate against Kumar.On Friday, the Supreme Court heard an urgent mention challenging restrictions imposed in Delhi ahead of the planned CJP protest. The measures included the closure of 57 metro stations and the cancellation, between 4 am and 2 pm, of trains scheduled to arrive at the capital’s two busiest railway stations — New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin — on the day of the planned demonstrations.
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During the hearing, Sibal, appearing for CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, asked the Supreme Court, “What is happening to my country?”The court told the Centre that a complete shutdown could not be permitted, though restrictions could be imposed. Following the court’s directive, the number of metro stations ordered to close was reduced to 45, while the 10-hour restriction on train arrivals in Delhi remained in place.(With ANI inputs)
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