SC to hear plea against Sansad Chalo organisers; says youngsters need counselling

The Story in Brief

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said listening to and counselling young protesters is the most powerful way to prevent violence and cautioned that aggressive action by the state could worsen tensions. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana agreed to hear a petition by former Indian Air Force officer Manish Solanki seeking action against organisers and alleged rioters in the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march in Delhi, where violence broke out, and directed that the plea be tagged with a batch of petitions on student protests and alleged police excesses. The petition asked the court to restrain Union and state governments from withdrawing criminal cases solely for political reasons, and sought directions to identify those accused of making derogatory remarks and order community service. Advocate Rizwan Ahmad said organisers escaped scrutiny and that the march lacked permission and violated 22 conditions. The bench said it would hear these issues with the larger batch, urged restraint and counselling for youngsters, left operational decisions to law enforcement, and mentioned a possible SIT and pellet‑gun guidelines.

The Indian Opinion

Coverage of the July 20 march has included strong language from several sides, such as descriptions of ‘mayhem’ and warnings about the ‘mighty State’. Such phrases can inflame opinion before investigations establish who was responsible for violence. The petition and advocate’s claims that organisers lacked permission and violated 22 conditions are factual allegations that merit probe, but the record presented in court summary does not yet resolve who committed specific offences. The Supreme Court’s emphasis on counselling, restraint and measured policing recognises this uncertainty. Ordinary readers may welcome both accountability for violent actors and careful, evidence‑based inquiry rather than immediate punitive or political moves.

Original article: ‘Youngsters need to be counselled’: Supreme Court agrees to hear plea against ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organisers (www.hindustantimes.com)

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