The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking to reconstitute its five-member inquiry committee investigating allegations of police brutality and unrest during a recent student demonstration in the national capital, finding the objections to be grounded in unsubstantiated assumptions.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana ruled that the High-Powered Enquiry Committee had been set up to assist the judiciary with thorough neutrality, fairness, and transparency, rather than to serve the interests of either contending side. In an order dated September 10 and uploaded to the court website on Tuesday, the judges observed that they saw no reason to alter the panel’s membership, especially when the objections were based on speculation raised before the committee had even started its work.
The bench emphasized that the selection of members was guided by a balanced mix of expertise, past experience, and diversity, expressing confidence that the panel would deliver an objective assessment of the events.
Protection For Witnesses And Evidence Collection
Addressing apprehensions regarding the safety of individuals who wish to testify, the court instructed the committee to ensure that vulnerable witnesses receive comprehensive security and that their identities remain strictly confidential. The judges also mandated that any testimony or physical evidence tendered by such witnesses be preserved under the strictest standards of privacy.
To facilitate secure submissions, the top court suggested establishing a specialized online portal where witnesses and other interested parties can upload relevant documents and records. The bench further designated Senior Advocate Monika Gusain and Advocate C. Solomon to represent the committee before the court and act as neutral intermediaries between the parties. The panel was also asked to select a member secretary promptly to manage secretarial and logistical operations.
Allegations Of Conflict Dismissed
The ruling followed objections raised by Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing one of the petitioners, who argued that panel member and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L. R. Bishnoi faced a conflict of interest. Bhushan contended that Bishnoi shared a close relationship with a senior official who was likely to face scrutiny during the proceedings.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan supported those concerns, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued against the petition, urging the court to reject the claims and allow the established committee to proceed undisturbed.
Mandate And Composition Of The Inquiry
Chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice R. Subhash Reddy, the committee is tasked with examining allegations surrounding the deployment of pellet guns, targeted violence and mistreatment directed at female demonstrators, as well as property damage and clashes involving both protesters and police personnel.
Alongside Justice Reddy and Bishnoi, the five-person committee includes former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court Judge Shalinder Kaur, and former Central Bureau of Investigation Director Rishi Kumar Shukla.
Origin Of The Delhi Agitation
The court-ordered probe stems from clashes during a July 20 march toward Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, where law enforcement officers deployed tear gas shells and batons to disperse demonstrators.
The demonstration began on June 20 at Jantar Mantar and ended on July 25 after then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down from his post and the central government agreed to the remaining demands put forward by the organizers.
