Supreme Court to Set Up Panel to Probe Excessive Police Action During Delhi Student Protests

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced it would constitute a high-powered committee comprising retired judges, a former DGP, an ex-CBI director and other members to investigate allegations of excessive police action against protesters during the student protest in Jantar Mantar.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said the formal order constituting the panel would be issued Wednesday, once suggestions from various parties regarding additional panel members are received.

The court directed that video and CCTV footage capturing the violence during the July 20 march toward Parliament be handed over to the committee for detailed examination. The panel has also been tasked with reviewing complaints from female protesters who reportedly faced targeted harassment during the march in Delhi and other locations.

The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to submit details of FIRs registered against student protesters, indicating that the court may invoke its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to quash such cases.

The court had previously observed that police excesses or lathi charges could not be justified simply on the grounds of an ongoing agitation, reaffirming that the right to peaceful protest remains absolutely guaranteed under the Constitution.

The July 20 march, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), saw violent clashes between protesters and security forces, with police using lathis and tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to reach Parliament.