The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to urgently hear a petition alleging police excesses during the July 20 crackdown on student protesters in the national capital.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant told the petitioner not to “waste” the court’s time and advised taking proper legal recourse instead of submitting videos.
The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by the CJI at the commencement of proceedings. The lawyer sought suo motu action, citing police violence against thousands of students who had marched towards Parliament as part of the “Chalo Sansad” protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam paper leaks and reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Cutting short the submissions, the bench — also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana — remarked, “Thank you very much,” declining to entertain video evidence. The refusal came a day after Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya similarly declined urgent circulation of a related plea, remarking, “Don’t drag the Court into this.”
The July 20 protest saw thousands march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. Police stopped the march with barricades, later resorting to tear gas and lathi-charge when protesters breached security layers. While videos on social media showed unarmed protesters being beaten, police claimed the crowd turned violent and pelted stones.
Hospital officials reported at least 100 protesters treated for injuries, while police put the figure at around 60. A 22-year-old woman remains in ICU at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The crackdown triggered political uproar, with Opposition MPs staging demonstrations inside and outside Parliament. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students and reiterated calls for Pradhan’s resignation.
Meanwhile, the CJP expanded its demands, seeking release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, Rs 1 crore compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide, and assurances that no FIRs be filed against July 20 protesters.
