Student protests: Ex-SC judge R Subhash Reddy to head five-member panel to examine police excesses

For context, the Supreme Court has constituted a five-member high-powered expert committee (HPEC), headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, to examine allegations of police excesses during student protests against paper leaks.

Key points

• Delhi Police analyses CCTV, drone footage to identify suspects in CJP protest violence.
• The Logistics and modalities governing the functioning of the HPEC.
• The petitions additionally sought an SIT or a CBI probe.

In practice, the other members of the committee are Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Shalinder Kaur, former judge of the Delhi High Court; Rishi Kumar Shukla, former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI); and Dr LR Bishnoi, retired Director General of Police, Meghalaya.

"Given our anxious and holistic consideration to the entirety of the material placed before us, along with the multitude of recommendations and propositions, we deem it appropriate and expedient, in the interest of justice, that the HPEC shall be headed by Justice (Retd.) R Subhash Reddy, Former Judge of the Supreme Court as Chairperson., " the bench of the top court remarked in its order on August 18. The order was uploaded on Thursday.

Notably, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymala Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order on a batch of petitions challenging alleged police excesses against Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The petitions additionally sought an SIT or a CBI probe.

According to The apex court additionally, the HPEC has been constituted bearing in mind a wide variety of considerations, including the individual expertise and experience of each of its members, as well as the diversity of the Committee, among other factors. "We are confident that the recommendations of the HPEC will be of invaluable assistance to this Court, and the Committee will be able to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all such issues as merit, " it continued.

'History-sheeters' hijacked July 20 protest, 240 cops injured: Delhi Police tells SC The bench additionally stated that it was necessary, for clarity, to direct that the Police Authorities, Para-Military Forces, and other Investigating Agencies. This person were directed vide order dated 28.07.2026, preserve all CCTV footage, drone footage, body-worn camera recordings, videography, wireless communication records, and PCR call logs pertaining to the student protests, furnish the entire record to the HPEC and extend their full cooperation.

It is further clarified that the constitution of the HPEC by us shall in no way deter or debar the Police authorities or other security forces from taking administrative or disciplinary action against such of their officers as may be discovered to be in contravention of the rules governing their conduct.

"The Logistics and modalities governing the functioning of the HPEC. The Union of India is directed to provide such honorarium, perks and facilities to the Chairperson as may be commensurate to a sitting Supreme Court, including the provision of transit stay in New Delhi, " the bench remarked in its order.

In short, student protests: Ex-SC judge R Subhash Reddy to head five-member panel to is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.