Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said a fair and independent investigation was needed into all allegations of police excesses against protesting NEET students, stating that anyone found to have taken the law into their own hands must be held accountable, amid continuing opposition protests over the use of pellet guns against demonstrators marching towards Parliament on July 20.
Court Calls for Transparent Commission-Led Inquiry
The court observed that once established protocols are violated, the law must address it, and noted that a prima facie case had been made for a transparent inquiry to be conducted by a commission, adding that the process should also help frame a clear protocol for handling similar situations in the future. The hearing also brought forward allegations of police excesses from several states, including a claim that a police officer in Bihar had used an AK-47 against peaceful protesters.
SC Directs Release of Protesters, Preservation of Digital Evidence
The court sought responses from all states where incidents of violence were reported during the protests, directing Delhi and other state governments to release all arrested or detained protesters who have no prior criminal record. It also ordered police to preserve all digital evidence, including CCTV footage, facial recognition data and drone recordings, while directing that such material and the personal data of protesters must not be made public.
Prashant Bhushan Raises Case of Alleged Assault on Protest Volunteer
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan referred to a separate petition filed on behalf of protest volunteer Junaid Malik, alleging that he and his family were assaulted by police. Taking note of the submissions, Chief Justice Surya Kant said the material before the court suggested there were allegations warranting closer examination, noting that even by conservative estimation, there appeared to be a prima facie case involving violence.
Solicitor General Says Over 250 Police Personnel Also Injured
Appearing for the central government and Delhi Police, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the petitioners had accused police of excessive force and maintained that any wrongdoing must be addressed and punished. He also informed the court that more than 250 police personnel had sustained injuries during the protests, remarking that the court would need to examine the full truth of the matter. When the Chief Justice sought clarity on who was responsible for the attacks on police personnel, Mehta said authorities did not believe the students themselves were responsible, suggesting the violence may have been carried out by miscreants or outsiders who had infiltrated the protest.
Justice Bagchi Cautions Against Blaming Entire Movement
Justice Joymalya Bagchi cautioned against attributing the violence to the movement as a whole, noting that there are always those seeking to discredit an otherwise peaceful crowd.
