Supreme Court Seeks Accountability, Calls Probe Into CJP Protest Violence Incomplete Without Fixing Responsibility
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday stressed that any investigation into the violence during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest in Delhi would be incomplete unless responsibility is clearly established. The court also highlighted the need for a fresh policing protocol for handling public demonstrations.
Hearing the matter, the Chief Justice observed that an independent investigation is essential to determine whether there was any misuse of force or other excesses during the protest. The bench remarked that merely conducting an inquiry would serve little purpose if those found responsible were not held accountable.
The violence erupted on July 20 after protesters, led by the CJP, attempted to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament. The situation escalated when police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd, resulting in clashes, injuries, and multiple detentions.
Appearing for the Centre and the Delhi government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the government is taking allegations of excessive force seriously. He said appropriate action would be taken if any wrongdoing by police personnel is established. At the same time, he noted that around 250 police personnel were injured during the unrest, making a fair and balanced investigation necessary.
Mehta also argued that anti-social elements may have infiltrated the protest. According to him, preliminary information suggests that some individuals involved in the violence had previous criminal records, including serious offences under murder, rape, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The government plans to present supporting data before the court.
The Chief Justice acknowledged that the violence may not have been carried out by students alone. The court observed that while students may have begun the demonstration peacefully, there is a possibility that miscreants entered the gathering and contributed to the unrest.
The Supreme Court indicated that the matter requires an impartial investigation to identify those responsible, ensure accountability on all sides, and improve the way law enforcement responds to public protests in the future.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
