Section 163 imposed: Delhi Police deny clearance for anti-UGC reservation demonstration

The Delhi Police issued a formal clarification confirming that no permission has been granted for any demonstration or gathering planned against the University Grants Commission (UGC) Equity Regulations and the current caste-based reservation system. The police clarification arrived after videos circulated widely across social media platforms claiming that authorities had sanctioned a large-scale demonstration at the Shah Auditorium. Labeling these online posts as "false and misleading," officials reiterated that no organisation or group has been permitted to hold a protest at the venue.

In a social media post, New Delhi DCP posted, “Various videos/posts are being circulated calling upon people to gather/assemble on the issue of reservation reforms for the protest at Jantar Mantar on 23 August. It is clarified that no permission has been granted to any individual or organisation for holding any such protest/gathering at Jantar Mantar on 23 August 2026.”

To maintain public peace, the police noted that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) formerly Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) remain actively enforced across the North District. Under these statutory orders, assembly of five or more persons, protest marches, processions, and unapproved public demonstrations are strictly prohibited.

Senior law enforcement officials urged citizens to refrain from circulating unverified social media claims, warning that strict legal action will be initiated against individuals found creating or spreading misinformation. The heightened security measures follow a major demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where hundreds gathered under the banner of the "Reservation Hatao Andolan" (RHA). Demonstrators at the site demanded a complete overhaul of the existing quota framework, advocating for affirmative action to be based on economic status rather than caste identities. The group also demanded a "one family, one reservation" policy alongside the immediate withdrawal of the UGC’s draft equity rules.

The UGC directives in question seek to establish anti-discrimination committees and monitoring mechanisms across higher education institutions. However, opposition groups argue the rules lack safeguards and could lead to potential misuse. The Supreme Court of India previously placed the regulatory framework in abeyance, describing certain provisions as vague and requesting responses from both the Union Government and the UGC. Delhi Police maintained that central security forces remain deployed at strategic locations to prevent unlawful assemblies and maintain public order.