A Delhi court on Monday convicted Congress leader Alka Lamba for assaulting a police officer during a protest at Jantar Mantar in 2024, reported Bar and Bench. Lamba and several others had staged the demonstration ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to demand the implementation of women’s reservation in Parliament. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar of the Rouse Avenue Court held Lamba guilty of assaulting or using criminal force to deter a public servant, obstructing public servants, and disobeying lawful orders and causing danger or obstruction.“From the documentary evidence and deposition of the witnesses as well as the other material on record, this court has no hitch in saying that the accused is liable to be convicted of all the four offences she is charged with,” the judge said.The prosecution had said that when the demonstration was held, prohibitory orders were in place under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Section 163 and permission to march towards Parliament had been denied to protesters.Despite this, they attempted to breach barricades and shouted slogans calling others to “gherao” or surround Parliament, the prosecution alleged. It also alleged that Lamba and other protesters pushed police officials and blocked a public road by sitting on it, Live Law reported.A first information report was registered at Parliament Street police station following the incident, Bar and Bench reported.Lamba’s counsel argued that the protest was peaceful and took place in a designated area. She also told the court that there was no medical evidence that police officers had been injured. The video footage did not show her assaulting police officers, said her counsel. However, the court stated that she was seen among the protesters who had crossed barricades, Live Law reported.In the order, the judge noted that Lamba “played a pivotal role in leading the protesters and continued with her gestures in guiding every move of the protesters”.While the right to protest is protected under the Constitution, it is subject to reasonable restrictions, and for every right there is a corresponding duty, he added. “The accused miserably failed to fulfil the corresponding duty and paid no heed to the warning given to her by the police officials declaring her protest as unlawful,” the judge said.Arguments to decide the sentence will be heard on June 5, The Hindu reported.Edited by Sneha.