'Neither officer using excessive force, nor criminal protester should be protected': SC
The Supreme Court of India has stated that neither police officers using excessive force nor violent protesters should receive legal protection. The court is currently reviewing petitions regarding student protests and is considering establishing guidelines for the use of pellet guns.
Why it matters
The ruling attempts to balance the right to protest with the maintenance of public order and police accountability.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday observed that "neither a police officer using excessive force nor a hardened criminal under the garb of a student protest should be protected." These remarks came as it heard petitions related to the NEET-UG protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20.The apex court said states are free to close or withdraw FIRs registered against student protesters, provided it is done in accordance with law. The court also indicated that it may lay down guidelines on the use of pellet guns during protests.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana clarified that the term "criminal antecedents" refers only to grave and heinous offences, addressing concerns that students booked in minor or political cases could be denied relief.During the hearing, the CJI stressed that the court wanted to strike a balance between protecting peaceful protesters and ensuring…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in