Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant today assured lawyers that he would intervene if the Supreme Court Metro station remained closed by lunchtime. The assurance came after concerns were raised regarding the severe disruption caused by the closure of several Delhi Metro stations amidst ongoing student protests, making it difficult for legal professionals, litigants, and court staff to access the apex court.
The issue was brought before a bench led by the Chief Justice by Vikas Singh, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Singh highlighted that the closure of key Metro stations, including the one serving the Supreme Court, had significantly hampered access to judicial proceedings.
CJI Pledges Action Amidst Metro Shutdown
"If nothing is done by lunchtime to reopen them, and if the DMRC has not taken any action by then, we will look into the matter," the CJI stated, assuring the Bar of his direct intervention if necessary. He further clarified that no adverse judicial orders would be passed merely because lawyers were unable to reach the court due to the Metro shutdown.
CJI Surya Kant also confirmed that the Supreme Court administration had already been directed to engage with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to find an immediate solution. "I informed them in the morning. It is up to them to talk to the authorities. He is exploring this also as one of the solutions. By lunchtime, if there is a solution, that is fine. Otherwise, if my intervention is required, I will do," the Chief Justice remarked.
Restricted Access Suggested by SCBA
During the proceedings, Vikas Singh proposed a practical solution: a restricted-access arrangement for the Supreme Court Metro station. Under this proposal, only lawyers, litigants, and Registry staff possessing valid Supreme Court proximity cards or identification would be permitted to exit the station after undergoing security screening. "People having proximity cards, and Registry staff, can be permitted to come out, and the rest can be told to take the other train and go," Singh submitted.
The DMRC had previously announced the closure of 16 Metro stations across the national capital until further orders, citing security concerns related to the ongoing student protests.
NEET Protests Intensify Across Delhi
This development follows widespread student protests, primarily led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The demonstrations, which have been active at Jantar Mantar for nearly a month, escalated with a recent 'Chalo Sansad' march, leading to police action and subsequent Metro station closures.
Earlier, education activist Sonam Wangchuk had also joined the agitation with an indefinite hunger strike before being removed by Delhi Police. Just the day prior, on July 22, the Chief Justice had declined to urgently hear a plea seeking the Supreme Court's intervention regarding the police crackdown on these student protesters at Jantar Mantar, stating that the court was "not interested in videos" and had no time for such matters.