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Supreme Court's Stance on Student Protests

While addressing petitions regarding police misconduct during student protests across various regions, the Supreme Court raised a critical question on Tuesday: why isn't an independent investigation being conducted to establish accountability? The court emphasized the necessity for a fair and impartial inquiry into the incidents that occurred during student demonstrations nationwide. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud remarked that protests are an essential aspect of democracy, highlighting the need for a clear protocol to govern police responses to public demonstrations.

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This statement follows a recent remark from a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Chandrachud, which asserted that police excesses cannot be justified merely because a movement is underway. The bench advocated for a "balanced" approach, insisting that actions by anti-social elements should be met with appropriate penalties.

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Last week, during protests over paper leaks at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and other cities, police actions against demonstrators came under scrutiny. In Delhi, the use of pellet guns to disperse crowds has raised concerns, resulting in serious injuries to some individuals. In Bihar, police firing to suppress protests injured three people, and one officer was suspended after a video surfaced on social media showing him firing an AK-47 during the demonstrations.