NEET protest: Supreme Court says right to peaceful protest guaranteed, fixes hearing on police excesses on July 28
The Supreme Court of India has scheduled a hearing regarding police conduct during recent student protests, emphasizing that the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally protected. The court also called for a uniform protocol for police response and expressed concern for the safety of both protesters and officers.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights the tension between maintaining public order and protecting fundamental civil liberties in a democratic society.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday (July 27, 2026) directed that a batch of petitions alleging police excesses during the July 20 crackdown on student protesters in the national capital be listed for hearing on Tuesday (July 28, 2026).
Although the petitions were scheduled to be taken up for hearing on Monday (July 26, 2026), the Bench agreed during mentioning hours to also list a series of impleadment applications filed in connection with the matter.
During the mention, the CJI underlined that the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest. “So long as it is a peaceful agitation... merely because there is agitation, there cannot be [police excesses]. If there is excess committed, it should be independently examined,” he orally observed.
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