Supreme Court moots independent probe into police excesses, orders release of detained minors
The Supreme Court of India is considering an independent investigation into allegations of police brutality during recent student protests. The court has also ordered the immediate release of all detained minors and restricted police from taking coercive action against non-criminal protesters.
Why it matters
This intervention highlights the judiciary's role in balancing public order with the constitutional right to peaceful protest during periods of civil unrest.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that it would consider constituting a high-powered investigating team to conduct a “thorough, fair and independent” inquiry into allegations of police excesses during the recent student protests in Delhi and several other States, while ordering the immediate release of all minors arrested in connection with the demonstrations and restraining the police from taking coercive action against protesting students unless they had criminal antecedents.
While underlining that the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant observed that an independent probe was necessary to examine the allegations of police violence through a “scientific” and “evidence-based” inquiry.
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