Jantar Mantar Violence: Supreme Court Gives Enquiry Panel One Month To Submit Report, Flags Lack of Complaints

The Supreme Court has given a high-powered enquiry committee one month to submit its initial report on the violence during student protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, after expressing concern over the lack of complaints from those affected.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued the direction on Thursday, November 5, after the committee informed the court that it had received very few complaints despite repeated public appeals.

The committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, told the bench that it had published notices in 149 newspapers inviting victims and witnesses to report incidents of violence during a march to Parliament on July 20.

However, the response remained poor, with very few complaints submitted either online or physically.

Supreme Court Flags Lack Of Complaints

During the hearing, the committee informed the Supreme Court that it had issued another public appeal on October 21 to encourage people to submit complaints and evidence.

The bench observed that the lack of sufficient material was preventing the panel from reaching any findings about the incidents.

The court consequently granted the committee one month to prepare and submit its initial fact-finding report.

It also directed that all petitions, video recordings and complaints relating to the violence be forwarded to the enquiry committee for examination.

The Committee

The Supreme Court constituted the High Powered Enquiry Committee in August to investigate allegations of violence involving student protesters and police personnel during demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and other parts of the country.

The panel is headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy.

Its other members include:

• Former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha.
• Former Delhi High Court judge Shalinder Kaur.
• Former CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla.
• Retired Meghalaya Director General of Police LR Bishnoi.

The committee has been tasked with examining the allegations and collecting evidence to establish the sequence of events.

Students Protests At Jantar Mantar

The protests were organised following the NEET-UG paper leak controversy in May. Students and demonstrators demanded the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing the authorities of failing to protect the integrity of the examination.

Jantar Mantar, Delhi's designated protest venue at the time, became the focal point of the demonstrations, which later spread to other parts of the country.

The protests culminated in a march towards Parliament on July 20, during which allegations of violence involving demonstrators and police personnel emerged.

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his position on July 25, following which the protests came to an end.

The Supreme Court's latest direction gives the enquiry panel a fresh one-month deadline to examine the available evidence and submit its preliminary findings.