Supreme Court Declines Urgent Listing of Plea Against Police Action During CJP Protest
Citing lack of inclination to examine video footage at the mentioning stage, CJI Surya Kant tells counsel not to waste the court's time over the student agitation crackdown.
The Supreme Court has refused to grant an urgent hearing to a petition seeking judicial intervention and action against alleged police brutality during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led student protest march in New Delhi.
A three judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana turned down the request for an immediate listing when the matter was mentioned by advocate Narendra Mishra. The counsel submitted that thousands of students were protesting against examination paper leaks, demanding NTA reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and offered to place video footage showing police force against unarmed demonstrators.
Dismissing the request, CJI Surya Kant clearly stated that the court was not inclined to examine video recordings at the mentioning stage, firmly remarking, “Don’t waste our time, and don’t waste your time. We are not interested in videos.”
The plea arises from the security crackdown during the CJP’s “Chalo Sansad” march on Monday, where police personnel deployed lathicharge and tear gas near Parliament Street to prevent demonstrators from advancing toward Parliament.
The Supreme Court’s refusal comes right on the heels of a similar stance taken by the Delhi High Court, which also declined an out of turn urgent listing on the matter, cautioning against dragging the judiciary directly into ongoing political street demonstrations.