CJI Surya Kant on police ‘brutality’ against NEET protesters over paper leak: ‘Mere agitation cannot justify lathi charge’ | Today’s news
The Supreme Court on Monday (July 27) noted that the right to peaceful protest cannot be denied just because there is an agitation. The court also questioned police excesses and called for a uniform national protocol to deal with demonstrations.
The Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said this while hearing a petition seeking action against police excesses during the Jantar Mantar NEET protests.
According to the Bar and Bench, he also emphasized that the life of every individual, including police personnel, is equally important.
“The right to peaceful, lawful protest is absolutely guaranteed by the Constitution. As long as it is a peaceful agitation, just because there is an agitation, it cannot be…If there is excessive wrongdoing, it should be independently investigated,” CJI Surya Kant was quoted as saying by Live Law on pleas of police brutality against student protesters.
The court further noted that allegations of police excesses should be independently investigated and emphasized the need for uniform police protocols to deal with demonstrations across the country.
“It is not just a case of Delhi. Uniformity of protocol is required. Just because agitation there does not mean lathi-charge. Discipline is part and parcel of the democratic process,” the CJI said on Monday.
The court directed that all the related petitions be listed together tomorrow.
