Chief Justice Dismisses Media Claims on Police Action Hearing
In a recent statement, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud dismissed media reports claiming he refused to hear a petition regarding police actions against students during a protest on July 20. He clarified that no formal petition was filed, only a representation was submitted. The Chief Justice criticized the media for irresponsible reporting and emphasized that the court had no interest in reviewing video evidence of the alleged police brutality. The protests had escalated into clashes, with demonstrators demanding accountability over the NEET exam leak. This clarification aims to set the record straight on the court's position regarding the case.
Jul 24, 2026, 15:30 IST
Clarification from the Chief Justice
The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, addressed the media on Friday, rejecting claims that he had refused to hear a petition regarding police action against students on July 20. He labeled these reports as irresponsible, stating that no such petition had been filed before the court. Instead, he clarified that only a representation had been received, not a writ petition. The Chief Justice emphasized that the media's portrayal of him denying the listing of the case was entirely inaccurate.
Misrepresentation of Facts
During discussions about listing urgent matters, the Chief Justice pointed out that a completely false statement had circulated over the past two days, suggesting that a case had been filed. He criticized the media for reporting without accountability, asserting that no documents had been submitted by 10 AM that day. He noted that the only submission was a request from Mishra or another individual, which could not be considered a writ petition.
Allegations of Police Brutality
A lawyer had sought immediate hearing regarding police actions against students during a protest march led by the 'Cockroach Public Party' on July 20, alleging brutality by the police. The lawyer claimed to possess video evidence of the police's actions and requested that the matter be listed for the following day. However, the Chief Justice declined this request, stating that the bench was not interested in reviewing video footage at this preliminary stage.
Firm Stance on Video Evidence
When the lawyer reiterated the claims of police violence and mentioned video evidence again, the Chief Justice firmly responded, urging not to waste the court's time, reiterating that they did not wish to view any videos. The protests on July 20 had resulted in clashes between demonstrators and security personnel, who used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd heading towards Parliament, as protesters demanded the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET exam leak issue. In summary, the Chief Justice confirmed that reports of his refusal for an immediate hearing were incorrect, as no formal petition had been submitted, only a representation.