NEET-UG protests: SC refuses change in HPEC; says enquiry on pellet guns, excesses must come first

The Supreme Court has expressed “disquiet” at petitioners’ aspersions of ‘conflict of interest’ within its High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) formed to probe into the police crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party protests on July 20.

Refusing to re-constitute the HPEC, a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant criticised the petitioners, who include students, of indulging in “conjecture and preconceived notions”.

On August 20, the court had tasked the HPEC headed by former apex court judge, Justice R. Subhash Reddy, to look into issues and allegations, including that of police excesses on students during nationwide protests against NEET-UG paper leaks.