New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has constituted a high-powered committee led by former apex court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy to investigate allegations of excessive police force and violence against student demonstrators. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana established the independent panel to look into administrative and security responses during nationwide demonstrations over national examination irregularities.
The inquiry panel includes a former High Court judge along with a retired Director General of Police, with judicial authorities confirming that consent has also been secured from a former CBI Director and a senior police official from neutral states to ensure impartiality. The judicial intervention comes in response to multiple petitions highlighting harsh security crackdowns during protests held at Jantar Mantar and other central locations across the country.
The legal proceedings stem from extensive student rallies and hunger strikes organized in the national capital following allegations surrounding the NEET examination system. Tensions escalated significantly during a march toward Parliament on July 20, where demonstrators demanded administrative accountability and comprehensive testing reforms. Security forces deployed tear gas and baton charges to disperse crowds attempting to bypass security barricades in central Delhi.
While circulating video footage prompted public outcry regarding the treatment of student demonstrators, law enforcement officials maintained that crowd-control measures were initiated only after segments of the assembly turned violent and engaged in stone-throwing. The judicial committee is tasked with conducting an independent assessment of the confrontations and establishing accountability for the events that unfolded.
