New Delhi, 23 July

The Lt Governor has extended Delhi Police's power of preventive detention under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) till October 18, according to an official notification.

In a statement, Delhi Police said this is a "routine extension" of the power and it has been "interpreted out of context" in certain media reports that are claiming that the power has been granted to quell the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest.

The CJP began its protest at Jantar Mantar on June 20 against the NEET paper leak and to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the issue.

On Monday, tens of thousands tried to march to Parliament as part of the CJP-led "Chalo Sansad" protest. The march witnessed violence, with scores of protesters and police personnel injured.

According to the notification issued on July 15 by the Delhi government's Home Department, the city police commissioner has been granted the power of detention under Sub Section (2) of Section 3 of the NSA. The power will be valid up to October 18, it said.

The NSA empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner "prejudicial to the defence of India". The detention period under the NSA ranges from three to 12 months, though it can be revoked earlier. It can be revoked by the local administration and has to be ratified by a board headed by a former high court judge.

Because it is preventive detention and not arrest, there is no legal obligation to present the detainee before a court of law.

In its statement, Delhi Police said, "... it is clarified that the said order is a routine extension/renewal of powers under the NSA, which is issued every three months."

It further said that the present renewal was granted on July 7 for the period from July 19 to October 18, well before the commencement of the CJP protests.

"It is further clarified that no specific request was made in the present context. The renewal is a routine administrative exercise and has been interpreted out of context by certain media reports," the statement said.

A Delhi government officer said the power of detention under the NSA is extended routinely after every quarter. This power has been delegated since the 1980s, he said.