New Delhi: The Supreme Court announced on Tuesday it will establish a high-powered committee to investigate allegations of police misconduct against student protesters in Delhi. The committee will include retired judges and former senior officials from the police and CBI.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana stated that an order formalizing the committee’s formation would be issued on Wednesday. This follows a period of receiving suggestions from various parties regarding potential additional members for the panel.
The apex court indicated it would mandate the transfer of all video footage and CCTV recordings related to the July 20 Parliament march violence to the committee for thorough examination. The panel’s mandate will also encompass the review of complaints and allegations lodged by female protesters who reportedly faced targeting during the march in Delhi and surrounding areas.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was directed by the bench to provide details of FIRs registered against student protesters, which the court is considering quashing. This suggests the possibility of the court exercising its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. The bench emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “It is the life of students, which is at stake. We have to consider this. They have a future ahead. They have the right to protest under Article 19.” This statement was made in response to a counsel opposing the quashing of cases against student protesters without them issuing an apology.
Mehta informed the court that law enforcement agencies had identified over 2,800 “anti-social elements,” with prior records of heinous offenses, as being responsible for the violence that occurred during the July 20 protest. Earlier, on August 3, the Supreme Court had clarified that the term “criminal antecedents” in its previous order regarding the release of student protesters specifically referred to individuals involved in grave and heinous offenses. The court also stated that states could proceed to close or withdraw FIRs against other students in accordance with legal procedures.
This clarification emerged after the central government submitted its position, indicating its seriousness in not pursuing FIRs against students who participated in the NEET examination paper leak protests, including the July 20 march towards Parliament, provided they had no prior criminal records. The Supreme Court had previously commented that police excesses, such as ‘lathi charges,’ could not be justified solely on the grounds of an ongoing agitation, underscoring that the right to peaceful protest is “absolutely guaranteed.”
The protest march, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on July 20 in Delhi, witnessed confrontations between protesters and security personnel. Authorities employed lathis and teargas shells to disperse crowds that were attempting to advance towards Parliament.
The Chenab Times News Desk