The Supreme Court on Monday observed that mere agitation does not justify police excesses. The right to peaceful protest is constitutionally guaranteed and that cannot be denied merely because there is agitation, observed the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday.
The observations were made during the mentioning of a batch of petitions alleging police excesses on students during the Cockroach Janata Party-led (CJP) protests against irregularities in the conduct of examinations such as the NEET-UG 2026.
The Supreme Court also agreed to hear on Tuesday the batch of pleas alleging police excess.
“The Right to peaceful protest is absolutely guaranteed. That cannot be denied. Merely because there is agitation cannot justify police excesses,” the CJI said.
The apex court noted that there should be uniformity of protocol while dealing with protests.
“There should be a protocol in place. There should be proper space and no restriction. But if there are some anti-social elements etc that can be taken care of. This is not a question of Delhi only. Uniformity of protocol is needed,” the bench said.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also agreed to take up a separate plea, filed by a few family members of those police personnel who were attacked during the protest, along with other listed petitions.
“Life of every individual irrespective of who they are is important,” the bench asserted when a lawyer said that police personnel were also beaten up.
(With inputs from PTI)
