Delhi Court Rejects Alka Lamba's Plea in Women's Reservation Protest Case
A Delhi court on Friday dismissed a revision petition filed by Congress functionary Alka Lamba in a case connected to a protest at Jantar Mantar. The protest was held to demand women's reservation in Parliament ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The court held that sufficient material existed to take cognisance of the charges against her. It rejected her plea for discharge or termination of proceedings and directed that charges be framed under the relevant sections.
Arguments Presented by Alka Lamba
Lamba had argued that the prosecution case suffered from an evidentiary vacuum. She cited the absence of a medico-legal certificate to support allegations of criminal force. Additionally, she claimed the protest site fell within an exempted area, making the charge of disobeying a lawful order untenable.
Court's Ruling and Reasoning
Special judge Dig Vinay Singh, hearing her challenge to the December 2025 order, stated that the magisterial court had applied its judicial mind and rightly found a prima facie case. The judge relied on eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence presented during the proceedings.
Judge Singh also noted that criminal force under the BNS does not require proof of injury, addressing one of Lamba's key arguments. This legal point underscores the court's stance on the sufficiency of evidence without medical documentation.
The decision reinforces the judiciary's commitment to thorough examination of protest-related cases, especially those involving political figures and significant public issues like women's representation in Parliament.
