Supreme Court Committee Invites Complaints Following Jantar Mantar Violence
A Supreme Court committee has begun accepting complaints regarding violence at Jantar Mantar in July, focusing on police conduct and protester safety.
New Delhi, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : A high-powered investigative committee established by the Supreme Court has started accepting complaints from individuals affected by the violence that erupted at Jantar Mantar and other locations in Delhi this past July. This announcement was made by a senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday.
To facilitate the process for affected individuals and police personnel, the committee, chaired by former Justice R. Subhash Reddy, has launched an online portal. Victims can submit their complaints and relevant information through this platform.
The five-member committee, formed in response to protests against alleged examination irregularities, is tasked with investigating all aspects of the violence that occurred at Jantar Mantar and various sites outside the capital.
The committee’s inquiry will focus on issues outlined in the Supreme Court’s orders dated August 18 and September 10, 2026. This includes specific points mentioned in paragraphs 12 and 13 of the August 18 order and paragraph 5(i) of the September 10 order.
Key areas of concern for the committee include the use of pellet guns, violence and harassment directed at female protesters, and excessive violence and property damage from both sides.
According to the Home Ministry’s statement, the portal is designed to ensure the safety of sensitive witnesses. Individuals can also request to keep their identities confidential. Affected parties and others are encouraged to upload their complaints and submissions in the prescribed format on the portal.
Additionally, information and suggestions related to the issues assigned to the committee by the Supreme Court can also be submitted through the portal.
For those who prefer to submit their complaints and related documents in person, they can do so at the committee’s office located at Education House, 17 Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi, during weekdays between 2 PM and 4 PM. Submissions can also be sent via post or email.
The Supreme Court directed the committee to investigate allegations of excessive force and violence by police and other agencies against protesters. This includes claims of serious physical injuries caused by the use of pellet guns, electric batons, baton charges, and tear gas deployed without adequate warning or proportionality. Some reports indicate that certain injuries may have long-term effects.
The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, clarified that decisions regarding facial recognition technology and broader constitutional issues related to surveillance and privacy will be made by the Supreme Court itself, not the committee. The court also instructed police officers, paramilitary forces, and other investigative agencies to preserve all CCTV footage, drone footage, body-worn camera recordings, videography, wireless communication records, and police control room call logs related to student protests, and to provide this material to the committee. Relevant agencies have been asked to fully cooperate with the investigation.
