Transit Restrictions Curtailed, Affirmative Action Limits Reaffirmed, and High-Profile Graft Scrutiny

Proportionality in Public Order: Supreme Court Restrains Centre from Blanket Metro and Rail Stoppages Ahead of Delhi Protests

The Supreme Court directed the Union government against executing blanket suspensions of Delhi Metro and rail networks to deter planned civil demonstrations, emphasizing tailored and proportionate administrative measures. The bench observed that state machinery cannot weaponize mass transit shutdowns to preemptively stifle democratic dissent, as doing so infringes upon citizens' constitutionally protected freedom of movement under Article 19(1)(d). This ruling sets an important precedent against heavy-handed urban lockdowns, obligating law enforcement to balance public order with basic civil liberties.