The Supreme Court on Friday told the Centre that there must be no complete prohibition on metro and train services ahead of the October 10 protest in Delhi.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, was hearing petitions challenging the restrictions. The petitions were filed by CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and others.

"Everybody does not have a car. You cannot bring everything to a halt and leave people without any transport facility," the Chief Justice said. He added that authorities should not "use a hammer to kill a fly."

The court said services should run in a regulated manner so that ordinary commuters are not inconvenienced. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court he would ask authorities to reconsider the restrictions.

The Delhi Metro had announced that entry and exit gates at 57 stations would stay closed from 9 p.m. on October 9. More than ten Delhi-bound trains were also cancelled ahead of the protest by the Cockroach Janta Party and opposition parties.