Supreme Court sets up 5-member panel to probe NEET protest violence

The Supreme Court on Wednesday constituted a five-member high-powered committee headed by former judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy to probe allegations of excessive police force and violence during the July 20 Parliament march led by the Cockroach Janata Party. The panel includes former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, ex-CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla, and former Meghalaya DGP L.R. Bishnoi, as reported by the Hindustan Times and Times of India.

The committee will examine complaints from both sides, including the alleged use of pellet guns, lathi-charge, and tear gas against protesters, as well as violence against police personnel and damage to public property. Times of India notes that the Delhi Police affidavit was silent on the use of pellet guns, though the court said the panel will investigate this. NDTV reported that allegations of harassment and molestation of female protesters will be treated as a priority.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, indicated it may use its special powers under Article 142 to quash FIRs against innocent students, but cases involving protesters with criminal antecedents will be examined separately. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the Centre does not oppose quashing FIRs against students, but maintains that those with serious criminal records who allegedly infiltrated the protest cannot be treated similarly. The panel is expected to submit periodic reports to the court.