SIR Protest Detentions: Bombay High Court Says No Blanket Orders Can Be Passed, Cased Deferred
Mumbai, Maharashtra: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday, October 13, said that it cannot pass a blanket order on the public interest litigation (PIL) challenging widespread preventive detentions and alleged police excesses during demonstrations in Mumbai on October 10 and 11, 2026.
Police had detained many protesters during Mumbai march against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The court has, however, deferred the hearing to Monday after government pleader Manish Upadhye sought time to seek instructions.
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While hearing the petition, a Bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna said the court cannot pass such blanket orders, adding that whatever are the instances the petitioners bring those on record, the court will take care of it.
The petition argued that the PIL was filed to protect the freedom of Mumbai residents. “The freedom to walk on the roads of this city, to stand peacefully with others, and to stay in one’s own home, without being lifted and carried away by the police for no individual reason,” the PIL said.
