Supreme Court To Hear Pleas On Police Excesses Against Students

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear two petitions on Monday, July 27, alleging excessive use of police force against students participating in protests across the country over the issue of exam paper leaks. The matter was mentioned before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant by Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan.

Sankaranarayanan urged the court to take up the petitions on an urgent basis, saying incidents of alleged police excesses against student protesters were continuing across the country. He informed the court that the petitions had not been mentioned earlier as they were awaiting diary numbers, but had now been formally filed with all procedural requirements completed.

The Senior Advocate submitted that the States had been made parties in the matter and argued that there is urgency because police excesses against children are happening on a daily basis. He stated that some controls are necessary and that the Court stands between the people and the police.

Taking note of the submissions, the Chief Justice said, "Let it be listed, we will entertain." When the senior advocate reiterated the urgency, the Chief Justice directed that the petitions be listed for hearing on Monday.

One of the petitions seeks directions to regulate police action during public protests. It has sought a ban on the deployment of plainclothes personnel for crowd-control duties, guidelines on the use of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and an independent probe into the police action during the July 20 student protest in Delhi.

The petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi against the Union of India, the Delhi Government, the Delhi Police Commissioner and all States and Union Territories, seeks enforcement of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b), 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution.

The development comes days after the Chief Justice declined to take up a letter petition concerning police action during protests at Jantar Mantar organised by the Cockroach Janata Party. On the same day, the Delhi High Court sought the response of the Delhi Police on petitions related to the action taken against protesters.

The protests across the country are against the issue of exam paper leaks, with students demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister. The Supreme Court's decision to hear the petitions on Monday is a significant development in the case, as it highlights the need for the Court to intervene in the matter and ensure that the fundamental rights of the students are protected.

The hearing on Monday is expected to be crucial, as it will determine the course of action to be taken by the Court in the matter. The Court's decision will have significant implications for the students and the police, and will likely set a precedent for future cases involving police excesses against protesters.

In the context of the ongoing protests, the Supreme Court's intervention is seen as a welcome move by many. The Court's decision to hear the petitions on Monday is a testament to its commitment to upholding the fundamental rights of citizens and ensuring that the police do not exceed their powers.

The outcome of the hearing on Monday will be closely watched by all stakeholders, including the students, the police, and the government. The Supreme Court's decision will likely have far-reaching consequences and will shape the future of protests and police action in the country.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court's decision to hear the petitions on Monday is a significant development in the case, and highlights the need for the Court to intervene in the matter and ensure that the fundamental rights of the students are protected. The hearing on Monday is expected to be crucial, and the Court's decision will have significant implications for the students and the police.