Supreme Court Calls for Investigation into Police Violence During CJP Protests

The Supreme Court of India has emphasized the necessity for a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations stemming from the student protests linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) regarding irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. Chief Justice Surya Kant highlighted that the inquiry should also consider the concerns raised by the families of police officers who sustained injuries during the unrest. This statement was made during the court's hearing of multiple petitions that accused law enforcement of excessive force while managing the protests related to examination issues. The bench, which includes Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, suggested the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a retired Supreme Court judge to delve into the claims of police misconduct and the violence directed at law enforcement personnel.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that approximately 250 police officers were injured amid the protests. He acknowledged the seriousness of any attacks on students but posited that the injuries inflicted on police might have been the result of disruptions caused by anti-social elements infiltrating the protests rather than the students themselves. Senior Advocate Sridhar Potaraju, representing the injured police officers, asserted that a coordinated assault had been executed against the officers on duty. Justice Bagchi remarked on the necessity for police to be equipped with protective gear, to which Sankaranarayanan responded by noting that the protesting students lacked such equipment.