IndiaThe Supreme Court of India stated that protest sites cannot be occupied indefinitely while reviewing a petition filed by a traders' association regarding significant financial losses incurred during recent demonstrations in New Delhi. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, emphasized the necessity of balancing the right to protest with the right to livelihood, noting that specific time slots must be allocated for demonstrations to ensure access for other groups such as farmers and journalists. The Court directed the government and Delhi Police to provide responses concerning allegations of mass detentions, police brutality, and infrastructure disruptions like metro closures and internet shutdowns. The Chamber of Trade and Industry reported that businesses lost approximately 14,000 crore rupees over the past month due to these disruptions, prompting them to demand a ban on rallies until mid-November. Additionally, the Court decided to hear complaints of alleged assaults on women journalists separately, with senior advocate Indira Jaising seeking the formation of a special investigation team.
Bias read (Center): The report neutrally presents conflicting claims from traders and protesters, quoting judicial remarks on balancing rights without adopting a partisan stance or using loaded language.
