NEET Protests: 'Don't Waste Our Time': Supreme Court Snubs Urgent Hearing on Police Crackdown During CJP Agitation
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Supreme Court on Wednesday firmly rejected a plea seeking an urgent hearing against alleged police brutality on student protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration in the national capital, bluntly instructing the counsel not to waste judicial time.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, made it clear that the court was uninclined to examine video evidence or fast-track the petition during mentioning hours.
On Tuesday, a Delhi High Court bench refused to hear the plea demanding action against the police brutality on the protestors by the Delhi Police. 'We Don't Have Time to Watch Videos'
The advocate representing the petitioners urged the bench to list the matter on Thursday, alleging that security personnel used excessive force against young demonstrators during Monday's 'Sansad Chalo' march. He offered to present video recordings depicting lathi-charges and police action.
CJI Surya Kant cut short the submission, stating: "We are not interested in videos, we don't have time to watch… We don't want to watch videos."
When the lawyer persisted, emphasizing that students were severely beaten and fundamental rights were violated, the bench responded sharply: "Don't waste our time. We don't want to watch any videos."
The PIL had sought an independent judicial inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court bench into the actions of the Delhi Police, registration of FIRs against erring officials, and directions regarding ongoing irregularities in competitive examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
High-Voltage Protests in Heart of National Capital
The legal challenge stems from dramatic scenes unfolding in central Delhi on Monday, when thousands of students and youth activists affiliated with the CJP assembled to march towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon session. Protesters gathered in massive numbers demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over repeated paper leaks, including the NEET controversy.
Clashes broke out as demonstrators tried to breach security perimeter barricades near Jantar Mantar. Security personnel deployed tear gas shells and baton charges to disperse the surging crowds, leaving dozens of protesters and several officers injured.
The denial from the apex court follows a similar stance taken by the Delhi High Court a day earlier, where a bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya declined an emergency listing and cautioned against dragging constitutional courts into ongoing political protests.
Second Month of Agitation at Jantar Mantar
The student agitation, which originated as an online collective under the CJP banner on June 20, has grown into a major socio-political movement in New Delhi. Activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the sit-in at Jantar Mantar on June 28, undertaking an indefinite hunger strike demanding systemic educational reforms and political accountability.
Despite police action clearing parts of the protest site earlier this week and moving Wangchuk to a hospital under court directives, student groups have pledged to continue their agitation until the central government promises an official parliamentary debate on examination integrity.
