Incidents of Cockroach Janta Party-led protests in New Delhi that the nation watched unfold in real time on television news and social media a month back will now be examined by a five-member, high-powered committee headed by a former Supreme Court of India judge to verify if allegations of police excesses against student protesters and violence against police personnel are correct.
Supreme Court of India has formed this committee, which will be headed by Justice R Subhash Reddy. The top court calls this committee ‘High-Powered Enquiry Committee’ (HPEC). It would also comprise former Punjab and Haryana high court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi high court Judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L R Bishnoi.
“This HPEC (High-Powered Enquiry Committee) has been constituted bearing in mind a wide variety of considerations, including the individual expertise and experience of each of its members, as well as the diversity of the committee, among other factors,” said a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana in an order dated August 18 and uploaded on Thursday, August 20.
“We are confident that the recommendations of the HPEC will be of invaluable assistance to this Court, and the committee will be able to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all such issues as merit due contemplation,” the bench said
The top court’s order came after it received several pleas alleging police excesses against student protesters during the agitation spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and allegations of violence against police personnel.
The CJP-led march on July 20, coinciding with the opening of the Monsoon Session, saw thousands of students attempt to reach Parliament. What began as a peaceful protest escalated into violent clashes, with barricades broken, tear gas shells fired and baton charges carried out. Multiple FIRs were registered, some invoking serious charges including attempted murder.
With the Narendra Modi government facing massive criticism for the violence on the student protesters at Jantar Mantar, the top court’s decision to form a inquiry committee has now helped the government buy time.
The top court has recommended that HPEC should address certain issues on a priority basis, foremost amongst which is the matter relating to the alleged incidents of targeted violence, harassment and molestation of female protesters. HPEC may also examine issues about granting interim compensation to those injured on either side, whether police personnel or protesters, it said.
