On October 10, 2026, a coalition led by the Gen Z‑aligned Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) began pressing for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrators alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a process meant to update voter lists, and called for broader electoral reforms. The CJP had planned a demonstration for October 10 at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, but the march was stopped from reaching its intended location as security forces intervened. The group’s demands were echoed by other civil society actors who said the electoral roll revisions had been manipulated, a claim denied by the Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Delhi Police denied permission for the CJP’s proposed October 10 demonstration at Jantar Mantar, citing short notice and public safety concerns. The restrictions on movement and public transport prompted the Supreme Court of India to intervene, urging authorities to strike a balance between the right to protest and the continuity of essential services. India later maintained that the police and administrative actions were in accordance with the law and emphasized that judicial remedies remained open to anyone seeking redress for grievances.
As security forces prevented the march from proceeding, protesters were detained. The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed concern over these mass detentions during the large protests in Delhi, urging Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and to release anyone it deemed arbitrarily detained. UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al‑Kheetan added that law enforcement must exercise utmost restraint, that any restrictions on peaceful protests must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality, and that all those arbitrarily detained should be immediately and unconditionally released.
It also noted that this right is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order.
India responded by underscoring that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Constitution and safeguarded by the country’s democratic institutions, an independent judiciary and a free media. It also noted that this right is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order. The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in Geneva reiterated that the right to peaceful assembly is constitutionally guaranteed, but may be limited when necessary for public order, and that the authorities act according to the law while courts remain available for grievance redressal.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had earlier raised concerns over reports of detentions involving demonstrators, leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists before and during the Delhi demonstrations. The UN also voiced alarm over mass detentions in Delhi amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, which were organized by the CJP and other groups over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. India urged the UN Human Rights office to devote comparable attention to large‑scale protests elsewhere, arguing for impartiality and non‑selectivity in its work.
India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva dismissed the UN’s concerns as misplaced and an unwarranted interference in the country’s internal affairs. The mission’s statement declared that India had rejected the UN Human Rights office’s concerns over reported detentions during demonstrations in New Delhi, describing the remarks as "misplaced" and an "unwarranted interference" in the country’s internal affairs. It also quoted the mission’s earlier observation that "We have seen the OHCHR's remarks about today's events in New Delhi" and reiterated that "The authorities, for their part, act in accordance with the law, and our courts remain available to all for redressal of any grievances."
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As of the date of the exchange, the protests over electoral roll revisions and the demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation remain unresolved, with India insisting its constitutional framework and legal avenues are adequate, while the UN continues to call for restraint, dialogue and the release of those it believes were arbitrarily detained.
