New Delhi, Sep 3 The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to pass any order on a plea by Kshatriya Karni Sena president Raj Shekhawat, who was denied permission by the Delhi Police to hold a protest opposing the recently notified University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 at Jantar Mantar here.
The high court said it cannot pass any order on the plea without hearing the Delhi Police counsel who was not available on Thursday.
Justice Amit Mahajan suggested that the petitioner change the date of protest from September 6 if the police were not allowing the protest on that day in view of the upcoming BRICS Summit and asked what was so sacrosanct about the date.
"You change the date of the protest. It is okay. What is so sacrosanct about the date?
"If the police are not agreeable to a particular date, change the date. There is nothing sacrosanct in a date," the high court said.
As the petitioner's counsel urged the court to pass an order citing an urgency, the court said it cannot give any directions in the absence of counsel for police which is a necessary party to the petition.
To this, the counsel said they can consider changing the date of protest, and the court listed the matter for hearing on September 7.
Presently, the "peaceful" protest is scheduled for September 6 from 10 am to 1 am at the Jantar Mantar.
Shekhawat has challenged the Delhi Police's August 28 order rejecting his request seeking permission to hold the protest. Alternatively, he has sought that his application be reconsidered and a fresh reasoned order be passed within 24 hours.
He has said that the peaceful protest was proposed for the purpose of "expressing views and grievances concerning reservation policies and matters relating to the new UGC framework". The protest was being held to seek withdrawal of the 2026 Regulations.
According to the plea, the police's communication said that the proposed demonstration cannot be permitted because of ongoing preparations for the BRICS Summit-2026, strengthening of security arrangements, law and order, and traffic considerations.
The plea, however, said the rejection is legally unsustainable as the BRICS Summit is scheduled for September 12-13 at Bharat Mandapam, whereas the proposed demonstration is scheduled for September 6.
"More importantly, Jantar Mantar and Bharat Mandapam are geographically distinct locations, and the petitioners' proposed programme does not involve any march, procession or movement towards Bharat Mandapam or towards any BRICS-related venue or security route," It said.
It added that the petitioners are willing to expressly undertake that no procession should be taken out from Jantar Mantar and no participant would move towards Bharat Mandapam or any security route connected with the Summit.
Earlier, Shekhawat had approached the high court claiming to be under house arrest. However, the police clarified in the court that he was not under any detention, prompting the high court to hold that Shekhawat was free to move around.
The petitioner's lawyer said Shekhawat has been leading a nationwide awareness campaign in respect of the UGC Regulations.
