Mere agitation does not justify police excesses: India's Supreme Court
Carrying placards and a large banner, several MPs protested in front of the steps of the Makar Dwar of Parliament and raised slogans, demanding answers from Shah over alleged police excesses against protesting students
India's Supreme Court today said mere agitation cannot justify police "excesses" or a lathi charge and the right to peaceful protest is absolutely guaranteed by the Constitution.
"The right to peaceful protests is in the Constitution. Right to peaceful protest is absolutely guaranteed. That cannot be denied. Merely because there is agitation cannot justify police excess," the Chief Justice of India observed while hearing pleas alleging police excesses against students during the 20 July protests over the NEET exam paper leak.
The bench headed by Justice Surya Kant also said, "Agitation does not mean lathi charge. Also, agitation does not mean violence."
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The bench also voiced concern over allegations of attacks on police personnel during protests.
When a lawyer referred to injuries suffered by police personnel and alleged attacks on their families by a mob, Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, "Injury to police is of equal concern. We may call upon the State to respond why adequate safeguards were not provided…"
The court said pan-India guidelines should be framed on the issue without either the petitioners or governments adopting an adversarial approach.
The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, agreed to take up a separate plea filed by a few family members of those police personnel who were attacked during the protest along with other listed petitions.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, protested in the Parliament House complex in New Delhi today over alleged "police brutality" against student protesters during the agitation on the NEET paper leak issue and demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's apology.
Carrying placards and a large banner, several MPs protested in front of the steps of the Makar Dwar of Parliament and raised slogans, demanding answers from Shah over alleged police excesses against protesting students.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also participated in the protest.
