HC asks Delhi govt, cops to consider request for protest in DU

The Delhi High Court has asked the city government and police to consider a representation of students seeking permission to hold a peaceful protest in Delhi University campus against alleged hike of house rent.
"You (students) have all the right to protest but the police have every right to maintain law and order," Justice Vibhu Bakhru said.
The court then disposed of the plea of the students demanding a "room rent control act" for affordable accommodation in areas near the DU campus as there are shortage of adequate hostel facilities in colleges here.
"The petitioner's right cannot be curtailed. However, the petitioner needs permission to hold such protest," the judge said, adding that the students should approach the respondents for alternative site and give their representations.

"They (students) should specify the area. They should also give an undertaking to the respondents that they will hold it peacefully," the court said.
While asking the authorities concerned to consider the students' request, it further asked them to "see if any place can be granted for the same".

The court's direction came on a plea filed by Praveen Kumar Singh, who alleged that because of non-implementation of the Delhi Rent Control Act, landlords increase the rent of tenanted premises randomly and whimsically.
"They also do not give any receipt of the rent, hence this money is out of government's knowledge which is resulting in heavy loss in revenue in the mode of tax," the plea filed through advocate Kamlesh Kumar Mishra and Anurag Ojha said.

It also sought quashing of the October 14 order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, North District here, denying the petitioner the permission to protest.
He said "denial has affected students fundamental and constitutional right".
The petitioner had sought permission to sit on an indefinite hunger strike in Christian Colony from October 31.