Delhi Police denies permission for protest against UGC regulations

Delhi Police debunked social media claims of permission for a protest against UGC regulations, stating they are false. Police confirmed no permission was given and prohibitory orders under Section 144 are in force in the North District.

Police Debunk Protest Permission Claims

The Delhi Police clarified that videos doing rounds on social media claiming that permission had been granted for a protest against the UGC Equity Regulations (2026) and the reservation system at Shah Auditorium on August 23 are "false and misleading". Issuing a clarification, the police on Saturday confirmed that no permission has been given to anyone for holding a demonstration at the venue.

"It is further clarified that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS (erstwhile Section 144 CrPC) are already in force in the North District. Accordingly, protest marches, processions, demonstrations, and assemblies of five or more persons are strictly prohibited," the Delhi Police said. The police advised citizens not to amplify, forward, or share any unverified content on social media, warning that strict legal action will be initiated against those found creating or disseminating fake news.

Context: Recent Anti-Reservation Protest at Jantar Mantar

This comes after a large number of people gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Friday to protest against caste-based reservation, under the banner of Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA), demanding a complete overhaul of the caste-based reservation system. They demanded that quotas in academics and employment should strictly be determined by income levels rather than social or caste identities. Additionally, the protesters advocated for a "one family, one reservation" policy and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the UGC's 2026 caste-equity directives.

A large number of people gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Friday to protest against caste-based reservation, following which the Delhi Police and Central Forces were deployed at the protest site to maintain law and order situation. Security personnel were seen present at Jantar Mantar as protesters assembled at the designated protest area. The police deployment was carried out as a precautionary measure amid the large gathering.

Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA) is an official Instagram page, which has 5.6 million followers. The platform rapidly gained traction by adopting the protest-mobilisation tactics of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and has now called for a physical protest against the reservation system. (ANI)

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