CJP PROTESTS: Even After Explicit Order, Delhi Metro Orders Closure of 45 Metro Stations, A Contempt Petition Moved

A contempt petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Saturday accusing top Home Ministry and Delhi Police officials of violating direct judicial orders prohibiting a complete shutdown of Delhi Metro stations and regional train services.

Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi moved the apex court naming Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Chairperson D Thara. The petition alleges that authorities committed wilful and deliberate disobedience of the Supreme Court's express directive issued on Friday, which instructed the Centre and law enforcement agencies to ensure public transport is not brought to a total halt amid security preparations for protests in the national capital.

Supreme Court Explicitly Banned Total Transport Blackout

Hearing petitions on Friday against widespread security curbs, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana firmly rejected the government's plan to close 57 Metro stations and halt incoming train traffic. The bench noted that authorities could not "use a sledgehammer to kill a fly" or deprive daily workers, students, and senior citizens of public transit under the guise of security.

"You say you want to stop unruly movement, do that. But that does not mean you stop everything and leave people without transport," the bench had explicitly told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The court directed authorities to adopt targeted measures such as frisking and CCTV monitoring rather than shutting station entries or stopping railway traffic into the capital.

DMRC and Police Shut 45 Stations Despite Court Warning

Despite the Supreme Court's clear instructions, the DMRC issued an official announcement that entry and exit gates across 45 key Metro stations—including major corridors on the Yellow and Blue lines—would remain shut from 9:00 PM on October 9 until 6:00 PM on October 10. The petitioner submitted evidence to the court showing that transit access was completely blocked at stations such as GTB Nagar, leaving commuters stranded.

The petition highlights that long-distance and regional train services bound for Delhi faced widespread cancellations and halts outside the city borders. The petitioner submitted that a physical inspection of Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas at 8:30 PM on Friday revealed only police personnel present, rendering the continued transport blackout completely unjustified.

Urgent Contempt Action Sought Against Top Officials

Seeking immediate interim relief, the contempt petition urges the Supreme Court to immediately revoke all blanket prohibitory orders affecting Metro and railway operations. The plea asks the court to direct the DMRC to resume full, regulated services without delay.

The petitioner has further prayed for strict contempt proceedings against the named IAS and IPS officers for disregarding the solemn assurances given to the court. With lakhs of commuters affected across Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, the court is expected to take up the contempt plea for urgent hearing.