Hearing a plea for permission to hold a peaceful demonstration against the E20 ethanol blending policy at Jantar Mantar on October 2, the Delhi High Court was told by the Union of India that the request had already been rejected considering the law and order situation in the area; the petitioners’ counsel has been given time to file an application challenging the rejection, and the matter is listed on October 27.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has been informed by the Union of India that the request of two petitioners to hold a peaceful protest against the E20 ethanol blending policy at Jantar Mantar on October 2, 2026 has already been rejected, keeping in view the law and order situation in the area, and has listed their writ petition for October 27, 2026 [Robin Michael and Another v. Union of India and Others].
Justice Amit Mahajan passed the order on September 29, 2026 in W.P. (C) No. 14470 of 2026.
The petition
The petitioners sought a writ of certiorari quashing the administrative decision, omission or communication by which their applications to hold a peaceful protest against the E20 ethanol blending policy at Jantar Mantar had been rejected or not granted. They also sought a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to give formal permission for the proposed demonstration on October 2, 2026 from 10 am to 5 pm, subject to such reasonable regulatory conditions on numbers and safety as the Court may deem fit.
The Union’s response
The Standing Counsel for the Union of India submitted, on instructions, that the petitioners’ request had already been rejected considering the law and order situation in the area, and that a copy of the rejection order had been sent to the petitioners at the e-mail address given by them in their application. The petitioners’ counsel sought time to file an appropriate application challenging the order of rejection.
Order of the Court
The Court recorded the Union’s submission and the petitioners’ request for time, and fixed the next date of hearing as October 27, 2026. The order does not grant the permission sought for October 2 or record any other interim direction, and it does not examine the reasons for the rejection.
Why The Jantar Mantar Order Matters
The petition raises the question of how far a refusal of permission for a peaceful protest on the ground of law and order can be justified, in a case where the date sought for the demonstration comes before the next hearing. The Court has not yet examined the rejection order, and the petitioners have yet to file their challenge to it. The merits of the E20 ethanol blending policy are not in issue in this petition.
Case Title: Robin Michael and Another v. Union of India and Others [W.P. (C) No. 14470 of 2026]
Bench: Justice Amit Mahajan, Delhi High Court
Date of Order: September 29, 2026
Appearances: Advocate Vijay Lakshmi for the petitioners; Standing Counsel Amit Tiwari with Advocates Ayushi Srivastava, Arpan Narwal, Kushagra Malik and Ujjwal Tyagi, and Government Pleader Daksh Bhardwaj, for the Union of India