The Supreme Court has constituted a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), led by former Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy, to probe allegations of excessive force by police, paramilitary units and other security personnel against protesters. The committee will investigate claims arising from recent student demonstrations and other protests across the country.
The panel includes former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police Dr L.R. Bishnoi. The court said the members’ consent was obtained and that a formal order on the committee’s constitution and functioning will be issued after further consideration.
The HPEC is mandated to examine a wide range of allegations, including the use of pellet guns, electric batons, lathi charges and tear gas; reported violence and sexual harassment of women protesters; police surveillance and facial recognition use; the proportionality of crowd‑control measures; and the provision of medical aid and compensation to victims. It will also consider authorities’ claims of violence against police personnel and damage to public property.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said matters touching privacy, surveillance, facial recognition technology and the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 will ultimately require adjudication by the apex court itself.
The court signalled it will also examine the possibility of quashing FIRs registered against student protesters involved in demonstrations over alleged examination paper leaks. The bench said it could consider using its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to quash such cases, while excluding individuals with serious criminal antecedents from broad relief. The judges stressed the stakes involved, noting the effect criminal proceedings can have on young people’s futures and referring to “the life and future of innocent students.”
On July 20, thousands of students joined a Parliament march organised by the CJP demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged paper leaks and broader examination reforms. As protesters attempted to advance toward Parliament and breach police barricades, security personnel used tear gas and lathi charges; several videos circulated on social media showing alleged instances of protesters being manhandled. Delhi Police defended its response, saying force was used after parts of the crowd turned violent and engaged in stone‑pelting.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/supreme-court-forms-5-member-panel-to-probe-police-action-against-student-protesters-14039604.html
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Publish Date: 2026-08-20 17:57:00
