The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated that it may constitute a High-Powered Committee to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of violence during student protests in Delhi and several other states, with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant stressing that accountability must be fixed wherever excesses are found.
Hearing a batch of petitions over alleged police action during the July 20 ‘Parliament March’ and protests linked to the NEET-UG controversy, the Bench observed that any inquiry into the incidents must be completely impartial and transparent to ensure justice for all parties involved.
CJI Stresses Accountability Through Independent Probe
During the proceedings, Justice Surya Kant said the court was committed to ensuring that any individual responsible for violating the law or committing atrocities against innocent people would face legal consequences. However, he underlined that such action could only follow a credible investigation conducted without bias.
The Bench, also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, said the composition of the proposed committee would be announced later.
Court Examines Allegations From Multiple States
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the alleged incidents were not confined to Delhi but had also surfaced in states including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, making the issue one of national concern.
Taking note of the submissions, the CJI observed that the petitions contained several serious allegations, including claims of pellet gun injuries, the use of electric batons, alleged attacks with nail-studded batons, assaults on journalists, and accusations against plain-clothed police personnel. The court also referred to allegations that a young woman protester was slapped without provocation and another was admitted to the ICU after the demonstrations.
‘Peaceful Protest Is Part of Democracy’
The Bench reiterated that the demonstrations were, according to the petitioners, peaceful student protests conducted within the constitutional framework. The court observed that while peaceful gatherings sometimes attract disruptive elements, that alone cannot undermine the constitutional right of citizens to protest.
Justice Surya Kant remarked that the evolving nature of public demonstrations requires fresh thinking on policing methods, adding that the court would also examine what protocols should govern the use of tear gas and other crowd-control measures during protests.
Petitioners Seek Action Against Police Officials
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan referred to video footage allegedly showing a police officer damaging vehicles during the protests and argued that accountability should extend beyond individual officers to senior officials responsible for overseeing operations.
The Supreme Court is expected to continue hearing the matter as it considers both the demand for action against those responsible for alleged excesses and the formulation of nationwide guidelines governing peaceful protests.
