Patanjali Civil Services Academy

Jantar Mantar Denotified as Protest Venue [Prelims Bits]

Tags: Prelims Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Hindu

Context:Delhi Police replaced Jantar Mantar with three designated protest venues amid demonstrations concerning electoral-roll revision and demands for the CEC’s resignation.
Alternative venues:
- Ramlila Maidan: Approximately 4 km from Jantar Mantar.
- Burari Ground: Approximately 15 km away.
- CBD Ground: Approximately 13 km away, in East Delhi.
Legal/administrative basis: Standing Order No. L&O/48/22 (28 April 2022), partially modified by the new order.
Earlier restrictions at Jantar Mantar: Protests permitted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; programmes limited to one day at a time.
Significance: Jantar Mantar is near Parliament and government offices, making it a prominent site for public demonstrations. Revised SOPs for alternative venues are to be issued separately.
Article 19(1)(a): Guarantees freedom of speech and expression.
Article 19(1)(b): Guarantees the right to assemble peaceably and without arms.
Article 19(3): Allows reasonable restrictions on peaceful assembly in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India and public order.

Q1. Consider the following pairs relating to the constitutional protection of civil liberties:

Constitutional provision	Subject
1. Article 19(1)(a)	Freedom of speech and expression
2. Article 19(1)(b)	Right to assemble peaceably and without arms
3. Article 19(3)	Reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression on grounds of defamation and contempt of court
4. Article 19(2)	Reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression on specified constitutional grounds

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

Answer: (c) Only three

Explanation:

Pair 1 is correct: Article 19(1)(a) protects freedom of speech and expression.
Pair 2 is correct: Article 19(1)(b) protects peaceful assembly without arms.
Pair 3 is incorrect: Article 19(3) concerns restrictions on peaceful assembly, not restrictions on freedom of speech and expression.
Pair 4 is correct: Article 19(2) permits reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression on specified grounds, including defamation, contempt of court, public order, and security of the State.