Polity · 5 Aug 2026

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan verdict

The Supreme Court's 2018 verdict in Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan vs Union of India primarily held that:

AA total ban on protests at a designated site is unconstitutional and regulation rather than prohibition is the correct remedy for genuine grievances
BEvery Indian city must designate at least one government-approved site exclusively for public protests
CThe right to protest under Article 19(1)(b) is absolute and cannot be restricted even in the interest of public order
DLogistical incapacity of a protest venue is sufficient constitutional ground to relocate protests to another site
This question is based on: Court asks govt. to consider 'important' petition against Jantar Mantar as protest site
Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 5 Aug 2026
About this question

Why in news

The Supreme Court is examining a fresh 2026 petition on whether Jantar Mantar remains a suitable protest venue, reopening the Article 19 balancing test first set by the 2018 verdict.

Why for UPSC

This distinguishes what the 2018 precedent actually settled from the new, unresolved 2026 question - testing precise reading of a judgment rather than a vague sense of "protest rights were upheld."

Prelims summary

The 2018 Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan verdict struck down a total ban on Jantar Mantar protests, holding regulation-not prohibition-is the constitutional remedy; it did not address venue relocation on capacity grounds.

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