Supreme Court Upholds Right to Peaceful Protest, Questions Police Action During NEET Demonstrations
op Court Hears Petitions on July 20 Protest Violence
The Supreme Court on Monday reaffirmed that the right to peaceful protest is fully protected under the Constitution, observing that police cannot resort to a lathi charge simply because people are demonstrating. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The remarks came while the court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking an independent investigation into the events of 20 July, when students marching towards Parliament during the Sansad Chalo protest were met with tear gas and baton charges.
The court observed:
“The right to peaceful, lawful protest is absolutely guaranteed under the Constitution. So long as it is a peaceful agitation, merely because there is agitation, there can’t be lathicharge.”
📅 Timeline of Key Developments
20 July
│
├── Students organise Sansad Chalo march
│
├── Police use tear gas and baton charge
│
├── Petitions filed in Supreme Court
│
├── Court hears pleas on police action
│
├── Court upholds right to peaceful protest
│
├── Seeks explanation on police injuries
│
└── Considers nationwide protest policing guidelinesCourt to Hear Plea on Injured Police Personnel
The Supreme Court also agreed to hear a separate petition concerning police personnel who were injured during protests linked to the alleged NEET paper leak.
The bench stated that any allegations of police excesses should be investigated, while also asking why adequate protective equipment was not provided to police officers deployed during the demonstrations.
The court said the government must explain the lack of safety gear for injured officers and indicated it would consider uniform nationwide guidelines for handling public protests.
Petitions Seek Independent Investigation
The petitions before the court request:
- An independent investigation into the police action.
- Preservation of CCTV footage and body-camera recordings.
- Protection of other electronic evidence.
- Compensation for protesters found to have suffered injuries.
Police Action Sparked Wider Demonstrations
On 20 July, riot police used tear gas and baton charges as protesters attempted to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament.
Videos shared on social media showed police in riot gear dispersing protesters, with demonstrators running for safety.
Following the police action, protests intensified in Delhi and spread to several other parts of the country.
📊 Main Issues Before the Supreme Court
| Issue | Status |
|---|---|
| Right to peaceful protest | Constitutionally protected |
| Inquiry into police action | Under consideration |
| Preservation of CCTV and digital evidence | Requested |
| Compensation for injured protesters | Sought through petitions |
| Guidelines for protest policing | Supreme Court considering |
Opposition Demands Accountability
Opposition parties backed the student protesters and disrupted proceedings in the Lok Sabha, demanding the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that police used pellet guns against some protesters during the 20 July demonstrations after visiting an injured student in hospital.
He told reporters:
“Thousands of youth were baton-charged, beaten, and pellet guns were used against them.”
Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the protest, while the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has not publicly responded to allegations concerning the Rapid Action Force.
Rahul Gandhi Raises Bihar Allegations
On Monday, Rahul Gandhi also alleged that excessive force had been used against student protesters in different states.
In a social media post, he claimed that AK-47 bullets had been fired during protests in Bihar and that hundreds of students had been arrested with FIRs registered against them.
Authorities have maintained that action taken by police was aimed at restoring law and order following violent clashes during demonstrations.
36-Day Protest Ends
The 36-day agitation, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the alleged NEET paper leak, officially ended on Saturday.
The protest concluded after the Central Government accepted several key demands raised by the organisers and Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister.
