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Forms 5-Member Panel Headed by Justice Reddy for CJP Protest Police Probe
New Delhi, : The has constituted a five-member to investigate allegations of police excesses and violence during the recent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests at Jantar Mantar. The Committee, led by former Justice R. Subhash Reddy, is tasked with examining the use of by security personnel as well as violence by protesters against the police.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana passed the order on , which was uploaded on the court's website on .
A Summer of Discontent: The CJP Protests
The protests began in June 2026, spearheaded by the CJP and student groups over repeated question paper leaks in competitive exams like NEET. The agitation gained momentum when climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest with a hunger strike, which he ended after 26 days for medical reasons. The key demand was the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down on July 25.
The situation escalated on when thousands of protesters attempted a "Sansad Chalo" march towards Parliament. and responded with lathi charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd, and there were reports of pellet guns being used, causing serious injuries. Similar protests in Bihar saw a policeman brandishing an AK-47. Both sides accused each other of excessive violence.
A Clash of Narratives: Petitioners vs. Respondents
The petitioners, including , alleged indiscriminate use of force, including pellet guns, electric batons, and tear gas, without adequate warning. They claimed police in plain clothes attacked protesters, women and children were specially targeted, and protestors faced threats of fabricated evidence and data surveillance.
The Respondents, represented by , argued that anti-social elements with criminal antecedents masqueraded as students and initiated violence. They pointed to over 240 police personnel injured during the march and significant damage to public property.
The Need for an Independent Probe
The Court noted that a case for an independent investigation was established. After hearing extensive submissions on the composition and scope of the committee, it formed the HPEC with Justice R. Subhash Reddy as Chairperson. The other members are former Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Judge Shalinder Kaur, former Director Rishi Kumar Shukla, and retired Meghalaya DGP Dr. L.R. Bishnoi.
The committee's terms of reference include examining: - Use of (pellet guns, lathi charges, tear gas) by police. - of police response during protests. - Desirability of banning . - Need for uniform and nameplates for accountability. - Alleged surveillance of protesters. - Targeted violence, harassment, and molestation of female protesters (to be prioritised). - Provision of medical support and compensation to victims. - Regulation of under . - Safeguards against misuse of to stifle . - Counter-allegations of violence by protesters against police and damage to public property.
Key Directions and Observations
The Court directed the police and paramilitary forces to preserve all CCTV footage, drone footage, body-worn camera recordings, wireless logs, and PCR call logs from the protests, and furnish them to the HPEC. It also appointed nodal officers for better coordination and allowed complainants to submit material anonymously.
The bench clarified that the committee's inquiry is not a one-time exercise and it must submit periodic interim reports. Larger constitutional questions will be decided separately later. In an earlier interim order, the Court had directed release of detained minors and protection of protestors' personal data.
What Lies Ahead
The HPEC has been asked to complete its initial inquiry on the issues of police excesses and women protestors' safety at the earliest and submit its first interim report. Meanwhile, the will hear the fresh matters on . The newly-constituted committee is expected to play a crucial role in establishing facts and aiding the court in delivering justice on both sides.
