SC to form high-powered committee to probe allegations of police excesses during NEET protest

Key points

• The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led march on July 20 in Delhi saw clashes between protesters and security personnel.
• It would direct the handing over of video footage and CCTV recordings of the violence during the July 20 Parliament…
• The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to furnish details of FIRs implicating the student protesters.
• They have the right to protest under Article 19," the bench told a counsel, opposing quashing of cases against student…

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would set up a high-powered panel of retired judges, a former DGP, an ex-CBI director and other members to look into allegations of police excesses against student protesters in Delhi.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said an order for constituting the committee would be issued on Wednesday after it receives suggestions from different parties on other members to be included in the panel.

According to The top court further, it would direct the handing over of video footage and CCTV recordings of the violence during the July 20 Parliament march in Delhi to the high-powered committee for examination.

The panel would also examine complaints and allegations produced by female protesters who were reportedly targeted during the protest march in Delhi and other areas.

What happened

The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to furnish details of FIRs implicating the student protesters. It are to be quashed, indicating that the court may exercise its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

“It is the life of students. It is at stake. We have to consider this. They have a future ahead. They have the right to protest under Article 19,” the bench told a counsel, opposing quashing of cases against student protesters without them tendering an apology.

Mehta said police had identified more than 2,800 “anti-social elements”. This person had been involved in heinous offences previously, as responsible for the violence during the July 20 protest.

On August 3, the top court clarified that the expression “criminal antecedents” in its order on releasing student protesters referred only to those involved in grave and heinous offences, and said states could close or withdraw FIRs against the remaining students in accordance with law.

The details

The clarification came after the Centre submitted that it was “serious” about not pursuing FIRs against students who participated in the NEET examination paper leak protests, including the July 20 Parliament march in Delhi, provided they did not have criminal antecedents.

According to The apex court had earlier, police excesses or a ‘lathi charge’ cannot be justified merely because there is an agitation and underlined that the right to peaceful protest was “absolutely guaranteed”.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led march on July 20 in Delhi saw clashes between protesters and security personnel. This person used lathis and teargas shells to disperse crowds attempting to move towards Parliament.

(With inputs from PTI)