The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined an immediate request to reconstitute its five-member high-powered committee tasked with investigating allegations of police excesses and protester violence during recent student demonstrations in Delhi. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant clarified that the panel operates directly under the court’s supervision and instructed all parties to allow the committee to proceed with its work.
Objection Raised In Apex Court
The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan on behalf of several petitioners. Expressing reservations regarding the current composition of the inquiry panel, Sankaranarayanan requested that an application seeking its reconstitution be formally listed for hearing. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, also representing petitioners, supported the request and stated that it reflected a shared concern among the applicants.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed the plea, characterizing the application as mischievous and arguing that the court should not be used as a political platform. Mehta contended that the petitioners consistently objected to official proceedings and criticized their attempt to propose specific judicial names for the inquiry panel.
Addressing the arguments, Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that the court disapproves of parties suggesting specific judges’ names for committees. The Chief Justice emphasized that the main case remains pending before the court and noted that legal counsel are expected to assist the panel in completing its investigation.
Mandate And Composition Of Panel
The five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee was established by the Supreme Court following a series of petitions concerning violence during student-led demonstrations. The panel is chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy.
The panel also includes former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation director Rishi Kumar Shukla, and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L R Bishnoi.
The committee is mandated to examine allegations of excessive police force, including the deployment of pellet guns and teargas against demonstrators. Additionally, it will investigate alleged acts of violence committed by protesters against police personnel and security forces. In its earlier order, the court noted that the committee was structured to leverage the diverse expertise and experience of its members.
Background Of Student Agitation
The judicial inquiry stems from public agitation organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The student-led movement began on June 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Tensions heightened on July 20 during a CJP-led march toward Parliament, resulting in clashes between security personnel and demonstrators. Police deployed batons and teargas shells to disperse crowds attempting to reach the parliamentary complex, while related protests subsequently spread to several other cities.
The demonstrations ended on July 25 after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation and the central government agreed to the remaining demands put forward by the CJP.
