A restaurant owner has approached the Delhi High Court, alleging that traders are suffering due to unauthorized protests and agitations at Connaught Place, a popular commercial hub in the national capital, and that they should be controlled. In his petition, he has sought compensation from those responsible for the financial losses caused by these protests.

Ayush Chopra, a partner in a restaurant in Connaught Place, filed the petition through his lawyer Umang Tyagi. The petition came up for hearing before a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Nitin Vasudev Sambre on Friday. Recalling that it had issued an order on a similar case on Thursday, the bench said that it will hear the petition on October 27.

The petition assumes significance in the wake of the call for a meeting at Central Park in Connaught Place by Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Deepke on October 16 at 5 pm. However, the petitioner expressed his concern that Central Park is not a designated area for protests and that holding protests here during the festive season will completely disrupt commercial activities. The

petition states that the CJP protested on October 10 despite the police denying permission, resulting in the closure of shops in Connaught Place. The petitioner cited estimates by business associations that business in Connaught Place lost Rs. 150 crore to Rs. 200 crore on that day alone, and around Rs. 2,000 crore across Delhi. Aayush Chopra said that his restaurant's business had dropped significantly during Navratri due to these protests.

The petitioner argued that there should be a balance between the right to protest and the fundamental right to do business. Referring to previous judgments of the Supreme Court, he urged that protests should be held in areas designated by the government and not wherever they occur. He also requested that those responsible for the October 10 protests be compensated for the losses incurred by the traders.

The Central Government, Delhi Police Commissioner, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Government have been named as respondents in the case. Meanwhile, during the hearing on the same issue on Thursday, Delhi Police assured the High Court that it will legally regulate the activities of CJP.