Security forces detained protesters as hundreds gathered at Jantar Mantar on Friday, demanding an end to caste-based reservation and its replacement with an economic criteria-based system of affirmative action.

Officials said no permission had been had been granted for any protest, procession, demonstration or assembly at Jantar Mantar. However, a no-objection certificate (NOC) was issued for a peaceful protest at a different venue, Ramlila Ground.

The demonstration was organised under the banner of ‘Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA)’, which began as an Instagram page. Protesters called for quotas in public education and employment to be determined solely by income, along with a “one family, one reservation” policy.

They also sought the rollback of the University Grants Commission’s 2026 caste-equity rules and a review of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Barricades were erected and personnel checked people approaching the site. Some of those who assembled in the morning were removed.