NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday directed its High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) to give priority to complaints of alleged sexual assault against women protesters during the NEET examinations protests. The apex court instructed the committee to examine these allegations urgently and submit an interim report without delay.
The directive came from a bench presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana. Senior advocate Shobha Gupta had urged the court to take suo motu cognisance of allegations of sexual assault and molestation that women protesters reportedly faced during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Gupta also requested the establishment of a dedicated mechanism for alleged victims to submit their complaints directly for examination.
The Chief Justice confirmed that the HPEC had already been tasked with examining these sexual assault complaints on a priority basis, as per an order issued the previous week. Justice Bagchi noted that a separate writ petition addressing the same concerns had also been filed, and the HPEC was directed to review that as well.
Gupta referred to accounts circulating on social media regarding alleged assaults, including specific instances, and implored the court to ensure a sensitive and direct channel for victims to lodge their grievances. She suggested the possibility of designating a judicial officer or an appropriate authority to receive these complaints directly, ensuring they are dealt with separately and with utmost priority.
The Supreme Court had constituted the five-member HPEC on August 20 to investigate allegations of excessive police action against student protesters in Delhi. The committee is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy. Its members include former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla, and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L.R. Bishnoi.
The protests, which involved demonstrations related to the NEET examination, saw clashes between protesters and security forces. The HPEC’s mandate includes examining broader complaints of alleged violence, harassment, and molestation of female protesters. The committee is also tasked with assessing the harm and injuries allegedly inflicted upon protesters by police and security personnel, and investigating the chain of command and accountability for any breaches of rules or laws during the handling of the protests.
The Chenab Times News Desk