New Delhi, August 23: The Delhi Police on Sunday said no permission had been granted for any protest or gathering at Jantar Mantar on August 23 against the reservation system and advised people not to act on or circulate unverified social media posts.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, said in a post on X that several videos and posts were being circulated asking people to assemble at Jantar Mantar for a protest over reservation reforms.

“Citizens are advised not to gather on the basis of such misleading posts/videos and not to amplify, forward or share any unverified content,” the DCP said.

The police clarified that no individual or organisation had been granted permission to hold a protest or gathering at Jantar Mantar on August 23, 2026.

The DCP also said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced Section 144 of the CrPC, were already in force in New Delhi district.

Under the orders, protest marches, processions, demonstrations and assemblies of five or more people are prohibited. The police said legal action may be initiated against those found creating, circulating or disseminating fake or misleading information.

The clarification comes two days after a gathering at Jantar Mantar under the banner of Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA), where protesters called for changes to the caste-based reservation system.

The protesters demanded that reservation in education and employment be based on income rather than caste or social identity. They also called for a “one family, one reservation” policy and sought withdrawal of the UGC’s 2026 caste-equity directives.

Delhi Police and central forces were deployed at the protest site as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order during the gathering.

The police deployment continued as security personnel remained present in and around the designated protest area.