In Chhattisgarh's Raipur, authorities impose ₹500 fee to protest
The Raipur Municipal Corporation in Chhattisgarh has introduced a new rule requiring citizens to pay ₹500 to hold protests in the city, a move widely criticised as a “tax on dissent” and a direct attack on the fundamental right to protest.
Under the new policy, passed by the BJP-led civic body, anyone setting up a stage or pandal in a public space will also be charged ₹5 per square foot.
The decision comes as the city’s main protest site, Tuta Dharna Sthal, remains closed for two months following a ban imposed by Raipur Collector Dr Gaurav Singh, who cited “maintenance work.”
This effectively leaves citizens with no designated area to voice dissent, and even when the ban is lifted, they will now have to pay to do so.
According to the resolution, a separate charge of ₹5 per square foot will be levied for stages or pandals, and officials have indicated that the protest fee could soon be doubled to ₹1,000, as per a proposal reportedly passed unanimously during the same municipal meeting.
Speaking to NDTV, Mayor Meena Choubey defended the decision, stating that the charges were introduced in line with government directives to cover cleaning, maintenance, and crowd management costs during protests.
“If there is a protest or procession, the route is known in advance, and cleaning arrangements are made after the event. The fee has been imposed as per the government’s directives,” she said.
However, opposition leaders and civil society groups have strongly opposed the move, calling it an attempt to stifle democratic expression.
Activists said the policy was designed to discourage people from speaking out on public issues, arguing that it effectively commodifies the right to protest.
