The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant an urgent hearing on a petition challenging the alleged police action against student protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) Parliament march in New Delhi, observing that the matter did not warrant immediate intervention at the mentioning stage.
The matter was mentioned before the Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana. Seeking urgent listing, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that the plea challenged the alleged use of excessive force by the Delhi Police against students who participated in the July 20 protest and contained multiple prayers relating to the incident.
The counsel also submitted that the protest raised issues of public importance, including alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), reforms in the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and accountability in the examination system. The petitioner further sought to rely on videos purportedly showing instances of police brutality during the protest.
However, the Bench declined to entertain the request, observing that it was not inclined to examine video material while considering an oral request for urgent listing. The CJI also declined the plea for an immediate hearing and advised the petitioner not to waste the Court’s time by pressing for urgent circulation of the matter.
The petition relates to the police action during the CJP’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march held on July 20, the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session. Thousands of students and young protesters had marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks, reforms in the National Testing Agency, accountability in the examination system and action over issues affecting students.
According to reports, the protest escalated after a section of demonstrators attempted to breach multiple police barricades erected near the Parliament complex. The Delhi Police used tear gas shells and carried out a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Both protesters and police personnel reportedly sustained injuries during the clashes.
While several videos circulating on social media allegedly showed protesters being assaulted by police personnel, the Delhi Police maintained that force became necessary after protesters allegedly turned violent and resorted to stone pelting.
The refusal by the Supreme Court came a day after the Delhi High Court also declined to urgently hear a similar plea concerning the police action during the protest.
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