New Delhi, July 28: The Supreme Court conducted a significant hearing on Tuesday regarding the protests against irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and the subsequent police actions. The bench, led by Chief Justice Suryakant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan, issued notices to the governments of Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala, seeking their responses.
The Supreme Court directed all relevant authorities to preserve all CCTV footage from the incident locations. The court clarified that no action would be taken against individuals who had no prior criminal cases against them but were charged during the protests.
Petitioners demanded action against guilty police officers, an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge, and the establishment of uniform guidelines for peaceful protests across the country.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Suryakant remarked that the protests were entirely peaceful, with students presenting their demands within constitutional limits. He noted that such movements often attract some uninvited individuals with their own agendas, who gradually become part of the protests.
He emphasized that protests are a natural aspect of democracy and that it is time to determine the circumstances and methods for using crowd control measures like tear gas. He also urged all parties to provide constructive suggestions.
Senior advocate Gopal Shankar Narayan, representing the petitioners, informed the court that an Assistant Sub-Inspector had broken a car window, with video evidence available. He stated that police acted without restraint, and unless accountability is established, such incidents will continue to recur. He suggested that a former Supreme Court judge could be included in the SIT.
In response, Chief Justice Suryakant expressed the court’s preliminary belief that this is a matter requiring an independent, fair, and transparent investigation. He assured that action would be taken against anyone who violated the law, and if accountability is not established, the investigation would be meaningless. The court will decide on the structure of the SIT later.
During the hearing, senior advocate Shadan Farasat highlighted that although the Bihar government announced the withdrawal of FIRs, over 150 minors remain in custody. He alleged that many children were held for more than 48 hours before being presented before a magistrate, including one child as young as 13. He called for the immediate release of all minors.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that 250 police officers were injured in the incident, some requiring stitches. He stressed the need for the truth to emerge, as it seems unlikely that students could engage in such violence. He claimed that some antisocial elements and “uninvited guests” joined the protests, and the government possesses data indicating the presence of individuals accused of serious crimes.
However, Mehta also acknowledged that excessive force against students would be a serious concern, and the government stands with the students. He reiterated that the government supports an independent investigation, and the final truth will emerge only after the investigation concludes.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan raised the case of Junaid Malik, who distributed food during the protests. He alleged that police took Malik into custody and that his family is being continuously harassed. The Supreme Court deemed the matter serious and scheduled further hearings for August 3.
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