CJI Clarifies Misunderstanding Over CJP Police Violence Case

The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, has addressed recent claims regarding his refusal to list a case related to alleged police violence during protests organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). He firmly stated that no petition had been submitted to the Supreme Court concerning these allegations. During a session dedicated to mentioning cases, the CJI responded to media reports suggesting that he had declined to hear petitions regarding police brutality against CJP demonstrators, asserting that he had been misrepresented. He specifically pointed out that a certain individual named Mishra had made comments that led to inaccurate media reports about his actions. "The media has falsely reported that I refused to list the matter. It was only a representation, and people started recklessly reporting it," the CJI remarked. He further clarified that upon checking with the Supreme Court registry, he confirmed that no formal petition had been filed on this issue. "Not a paper was filed. A completely false statement that matter has been filed. Media absolutely free from all responsibilities," he added, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting in such sensitive matters.

This clarification from the Chief Justice comes in the wake of reports indicating that the Supreme Court had turned down an urgent request to hear allegations of police misconduct during the CJP's protest on July 20, known as the "Chalo Sansad" march. Several news outlets had cited comments made by the CJI when a lawyer sought immediate listing of a plea during the mentioning hour. According to reports, the bench declined the request for expedited consideration and showed reluctance to view video evidence depicting police lathi-charging students. The confusion arose following the events of the July 20 demonstration, where thousands of protesters attempted to march towards Parliament, demanding accountability for alleged irregularities in examinations and calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest led to confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement, with both parties accusing each other of initiating violence. Allegations of excessive force, including the deployment of tear gas, pellet guns, and lathi-charging, have sparked significant legal and political discussions.