Supreme Court to Hear Petitions on Police Action Against Student Protests
The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions concerning allegations of excessive police force used against students protesting exam paper leaks. Senior lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan presented the case, emphasizing the need for judicial intervention due to ongoing reports of police brutality. The protests, which have seen thousands of students demanding reforms and the resignation of the Education Minister, escalated when demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament. The court's decision to hear the case reflects the growing concern over the treatment of students by law enforcement during these protests.
| Jul 24, 2026, 18:04 IST
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Student Protest Cases
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear petitions on July 27 regarding allegations of excessive police action against students protesting against exam paper leaks at Jantar Mantar and other locations across the country. Senior lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan presented the case before Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan. He indicated that two petitions related to alleged violence against the protesters have been filed. Shankaranarayanan emphasized that these petitions are connected to incidents of police brutality during student demonstrations, involving multiple states as parties. He noted that the petitions were not mentioned earlier as they were awaiting diary numbers.
Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, he informed the bench that reports of police excesses against students are continuously emerging, prompting a call for immediate judicial intervention. He stated that law enforcement is using excessive force against the youth, which is ongoing and requires some regulation. The court stands between us and the police. In response to these arguments, the Chief Justice agreed to hear the petitions and instructed that they be listed for hearing on Monday, stating, 'Let it be listed; we will hear it.'
On July 20, thousands of students participated in a march to Parliament organized by the Cockroach Public Party (CJP) after weeks of protests and hunger strikes at Jantar Mantar. They demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged exam question paper leaks and called for significant reforms in the examination system. When the protesters attempted to break through several police barricades in central Delhi while marching towards Parliament, security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Numerous videos shared on social media reportedly show police mistreating the protesters.