Delhi CEC Protests | Live Updates from the Supreme Court

In a rare move, the Supreme Court held a Sunday hearing to consider contempt and habeas corpus petitions regarding developments in the city over protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly marched to the Supreme Court and submit a memorandum to Chief Justice Surya Kant “on behalf of the nation, demanding an end to vote chori, halting of SIR and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.” Last night, the CJI declined to meet with Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders as the matter of alleged electoral irregularities is sub-judice.

Follow this page for live updates from the Court and the streets.

15 October 2026 

1:30 PM

Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard a cluster of petitions arising from the recent protests, including disputes on: whether prohibitory orders were in force when demonstrators were detained; whether the police had complied with the Court’s earlier directions on public transport; and how complaints of police harassment of women journalists should be investigated.

Read our report here.

The Court issued notice on the challenge to the Special Investigative Revision by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA Bloc leaders. The petitioners sought suspension of the SIR across states as interim relief while Court considers the challenge.

Read the report here.

10:30 AM

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will hear a set of contempt and Habeas Corpus petitions filed by petitioners following the closure of trains and metro stations surrounding protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar on 10 October. Petitions filed by Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi seeking intervention of the Court in relation to the arbitrary exercise of collective powers by the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will also be heard by the Bench.

13 October 2026 

5:40 PM

The tea meeting was followed by a media briefing. Mr. Gandhi stated that democracy and the election system in the country has been “destroyed”, and that the protest is  a fight to restore democratic rule in the country. He referred to how Jantar Mantar has been denotified as a protest site. “We are gping to challenge that idea”, he said.

4:05PM 

CJP Leader Abhijeet Dipke tweeted that the INDIA Bloc protest and march to the Supreme Court did not witness a similar crackdown as the 10 October protest. He stated that the restrain was a tactic to create mistrust against “people who are ultimately fighting for the same cause”.

4:00PM 

Yesterday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi invited INDIA Bloc MPs for a high tea at his residence. This will be followed by a media briefing at 5PM.

1:15PM 

Members of the Bar observed a one minute silence at the Gandhi statute in solidarity with lawyers who were manhandled during the 10 October protests.

11:15 AM 

CJP Leaders were detained after entering the Jantar Mantar protest site. The protest site was denotified by the Delhi police, on 12 October.

10:58AM 

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned a contempt petition filed by a journalist which claims violation of the Supreme Court’s 11 October Order. Senior Advocate C.U. Singh also mentioned a petition concerning the manhandling of members of the Bar. They asked that the matters be heard along with the cases that are listed today. Senior Advocate Indira Jaising flagged a petition concerning the sexual harrassment of women journalists covering the protests.

CJI Surya Kant responded that an immediate listing will be unlikely as the Bench has to read the files before taking up the case. CJI Surya Kant also informed that Justice V. Mohana was unwell, which prompted Sankaranarayanan to inform that the petitions may be listed on a later day as arguments will continue for a prolonged period. The Bench stated that the matter will be taken up on Thursday (14 October 2026).

10:30AM

The contempt petition and other petitions challenging detention, and the manhandling of advocates and journalists are listed before Chief Justice Surya Kant today. The petitioners include M.A. Baby, the Association for Democratic Reforms, the Supreme Court Bar Association, the Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Association, and Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha.

12 October 2026

6:30PM 

Mr. Gandhi has arrived at the Supreme Court premises, shortly after it was reported that his petition was filed. A crowd of protestors have gathered near the gates and were heard chanting “Rahul Gandhi Zindabad” as he entered.

5:04PM 

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced that “entry and exit gates of all Metro Stations of the Delhi Metro network are now open. The interchange facility at all the concerned Metro stations is also available.” The restriction on metro services was a point of contention in Sunday’s contempt hearing. The Court is expected to receive a compliance report from the authorities on Tuesday (tomorrow).

Service Update

Entry and exit gates of all Metro Stations of the Delhi Metro network are now open. The interchange facility at all the concerned Metro stations is also available.

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) October 12, 2026

5:00PM 

The Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Association reiterated its “firm commitment to the independence of the judiciary, which is essential to the rule of law and the fair administration of justice”. The statement appreciated the stand taken by Chief Justice Surya Kant by “making it clear that political parties seeking resolution of their grievances must approach the Court through the judicial process”.

4:30 – 4:45PM 

Mr. Gandhi’s petition has been registered in the Supreme Court under Diary No. 64196/2026. The respondent in the petition is the Election Commission of India. Mr. Gandhi was not at the Supreme Court in person as his march is still progressing to the Supreme Court. He is now joined by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav, President of the Samajwadi Party; Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal Leader Tejashwi Yadav.

The petitioners include INDIA Bloc leaders. Namely, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Saugata Roy, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Sanjay Raut, M.A. Baby, D. Raja, Mahua Majhi, Supriya Sule, E.T. Mohammed Basheer.

The respondents in Rahul Gandhi’s petition are the Election Commission of India, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and ECI Members Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

3:11PM

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) issued a notification that the Bar will observe one minute of silence on 13 October (tomorrow) at 1:15 PM before the Gandhi statue, in solidarity with advocates mistreated and manhandled by police. Participants were requested to wear a white ribbon.

2:30PM

Several Members of the Bar have begun marching from the Supreme Court to join the protest march led by Rahul Gandhi. While Section 163 has been lifted from Court premises, it remains in place on surrounding areas. Members of the Bar informed SCO that some advocates were asked to wear black and white ribbons in solidarity.

2:00PM

Delhi police denotified Jantar Mantar as a protest site and designated three new venues Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground, East Delhi. The Cockroach Janta Party has sought permission to continue protesting at Jantar Mantar within 24 hours, failing which the “protestors will have no choice” but to continue their peaceful protest.

12:00PM

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi addressed a Press Conference at Indira Bhawan, New Delhi. He called for the march , titled the “Delhi March for Democracy” to begin from Connaught Place at 1:30PM, inviting everyone who supports and wishes to protect the Constitution of India.

“Why is CEC Gyanesh Kumar not giving his resignation?” he asked and claimed that 50 per cent of police personnel support the protest and have asked him to go ahead. Mr. Gandhi stated that the INDIA Bloc will reach the Supreme Court at 3PM to submit a “petition” and sought the support of those who stand by the National Flag and the Constitution.

The press conference ended at 12:45PM.

11:06AM

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan: There are hooligans running around the street with sticks and beating protestors and children repeatedly. They are doing this with “bravery and courage”. He argued that the police is not taking action against these perpetrators. The Bench will come to the rescue of the bar and the citizens. “I have never seen lawyers being dragged through the streets”, he added, referring to the detention of Senior Advocate Dinesh Dwivedi. Senior Advocates Shadan Farasat and Uttara Babbar were also detained on 10 October.

He requested that the petition against police inaction be listed tomorrow (Tuesday).

11:00 AM

Parties mentioned a case regarding lawyers who were detained. The petitions were filed by individual lawyers. Stating that the hearing will be listed tomorrow, the Bench mentioned that there cannot be any obstruction to movement of litigants. CJI Surya Kant stated that all democratic activities must take place but there should not be a disturbance to the Supreme Court’s functioning, adding that the Court “should not be dragged into any kind of thing.”

The 11 October hearing

The contempt petition alleged violation of the Court’s 9 October order wherein it directed that metro and rail services can only be regulated and not prohibited entirely. The habeas corpus petition sought release of persons detained with counsel stating that over 7000+ had been held by the police.

The Bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed the following:

1. Metro and rail services shall operate normally across all stations as per their schedule, subject to public order conditions under Article 19(2).
2. Free movement of people and traffic in the city shall be permitted subject to the traffic regulations. Barricades imposed in the city shall be reviewed, keeping in mind law and order conditions under Article 19(2).
3. Internet facilities throughout the city shall remain undisturbed.
4. Advocates, journalists and professionals shall not be impeded or prevented from discharging their professional duties.
5. There can be no detention save and except by procedure established by law, particularly with regard to peaceful unarmed assemblage people beyond the area where Section
   163 is in operation
6. Boards imposing restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS around the Supreme Court premises have to be removed. There cannot be any apprehension with regard to the access to justice to the Supreme Court and any other court of law.

The Court did not provide any immediate relief with regard to the alleged contempt allegations and the release of the persons detained during the protests. It will consider a compliance report of its 9 October directions on Tuesday.

(This report includes ongoing developments and will be routinely updated)