Supreme Court Proposes SIT to Investigate Student Protest Violence and Police Conduct
Chief Justice Surya Kant signaled the appointment of a Special Investigation Team to probe clashes during NEET exam demonstrations. The court will examine both alleged police brutality and attacks on 250 officers.
Judicial Oversight for NEET Protest Clashes
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant announced on July 28, 2026, that the Supreme Court may establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to lead an impartial inquiry into violent confrontations between law enforcement and student demonstrators. The bench, which includes Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, emphasized that a transparent probe is necessary to hold accountable any party that exceeded legal protocols during the recent unrest in New Delhi.
Allegations of Brutality and Infiltration
The legal proceedings stem from petitions regarding the July 20 march organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Protesters were demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following irregularities in the NEET examinations. While the demonstrations concluded on July 25 after Pradhan’s resignation, legal scrutiny of the police response has intensified. Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha moved the apex court to mandate the registration of FIRs against officers for using excessive force.
- Force Deployment: Police utilized lathi charges and teargas to prevent crowds from reaching Parliament House.
- Ballistic Usage: Records from the Parliament Street police station show the Rapid Action Force discharged two rounds from anti-riot pellet guns under the orders of a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
- Casualties: Approximately 250 police personnel sustained injuries during the fracas.
Identifying the Perpetrators
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued before the court that genuine students were unlikely to initiate violence against security forces. He suggested that the protests were infiltrated by criminal elements previously involved in serious offenses, including murder and rape. Justice Kant noted that the SIT must determine if the aggression against officers originated from the student body or these alleged third-party miscreants. The court stated clearly that once defined legal protocols are breached, the law must intervene regardless of the perpetrator's status.
Source: The Hindu — Home
