October 5, 2026 — Update to our October 4 story. India’s Supreme Court on Monday declined to suspend the chief election commissioner, and the opposition INDIA bloc has widened its protest calendar. The biggest date for visitors is Tuesday, October 6, when opposition leaders plan to march to the Election Commission’s headquarters on Ashoka Road in central New Delhi. No metro closures, curfew or airport impact were reported on October 4 or 5.
What changed
- Court: a three-judge bench led by the chief justice refused an interim order suspending Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and issued notice to the Election Commission. The next hearing date is TBA.
- On the ground Monday: security was tightened around Parliament Street police station, where demonstrators gathered over allegations that police harassed three women journalists at the October 3 protest. Several were detained; the number was not given.
- Jantar Mantar: the protest site is sealed behind 11 rows of barricades, The Tribune reported. Closed approaches include Jantar Mantar Road, Sansad Marg near Parliament Street, Ashoka Road and Gate 2 of Janpath metro station.
- Gathering ban: orders barring groups of five or more without permission remain in New Delhi district. About 5,000 police and paramilitary personnel are deployed.
Protest dates
| Date | Planned action |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 6 | Opposition march to Election Commission headquarters, Ashoka Road; time TBA |
| October 7–8 | District-level protests across Delhi, including outside the Delhi election office |
| Saturday, October 10 | Protest in Delhi announced by the Cockroach Janta Party; place and time TBA |
| November 1 | National-level opposition protest |
| November 7 | Demonstration at the Delhi election office, Kashmere Gate |
Metro note
On Friday, October 2, Delhi Metro shut the entrances at 11 to 12 central stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and New Delhi, and reopened them that evening. Mobile internet was cut around Connaught Place that day. The same could happen again at short notice.
What it means for airline travelers
- Avoid Connaught Place, Janpath, Ashoka Road and Parliament Street on October 6. Hotels in that area may be hard to reach by car.
- The Airport Express line uses New Delhi station. If central stations close, leave for Indira Gandhi International Airport early and consider going by road from outside the centre.
- Carry your passport and hotel booking; police checkpoints are frequent in the sealed area.
- Keep offline copies of tickets and maps in case mobile data is cut again.
Sources
- The Wire — Supreme Court Refuses to Pass Interim Order to Suspend CEC Gyanesh Kumar
- The Tribune — INDIA bloc parties to intensify stir against CEC in Delhi
- The Tribune — 11 layers of barricades turn Jantar Mantar into fortress
- The Tribune — Scattered, leaderless protests put over 5K Delhi cops to test
- Business Standard — SIR protests gather steam ahead of SC hearing; Opposition widens agitation
- The Federal — Delhi protesters detained over alleged sexual harassment of women journalists
- Outlook India — CJP Protest Updates: All Delhi Metro Stations Back In Service
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