The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Delhi Police’s crackdown on a Cockroach Janta Party demonstration held last week, scheduling the matter for hearing on Tuesday.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant agreed to list the cases following an urgent mentioning before the bench.
Constitutional Protections and Independent Inquiry
Highlighting the fundamental principles surrounding public agitations, the top court emphasized that the Constitution guarantees citizens the absolute right to peaceful and lawful protest. The bench noted that law enforcement officers cannot resort to lathi charges against non-violent demonstrators merely due to the presence of an agitation. It added that any alleged police excesses during such events must be subjected to an independent examination.
Demand for Uniform State Protocols
The court further observed that concerns regarding police handling of public demonstrations extend beyond the national capital. Pointing out that discipline is an integral component of the democratic process, the Supreme Court stressed the necessity for establishing uniform protocols across all states to govern police conduct during protests.
