New Delhi: The Supreme Court has formed a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) to examine allegations of violence and police excesses during last month’s student protests against the NEET-UG paper leak at Jantar Mantar.
The panel will also probe alleged violence by protesters and assess whether the use of force was lawful and proportionate.
Headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, the committee also comprises former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla and former Meghalaya DGP LR Bishnoi.
“This HPEC (High-Powered Enquiry Committee) has been constituted bearing in mind a wide variety of considerations, including the individual expertise and experience of each of its members, as well as the diversity of the Committee, among other factors,” a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana elucidated.
“We are confident that the recommendations of the HPEC will be of invaluable assistance to this Court, and the Committee will be able to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all such issues as merit due contemplation,” the bench said.
The apex court clarified the committee’s inquiry will not be a one-time exercise, and that it will conduct a continuous and periodic assessment of the issues and will submit its interim findings periodically.
The committee has been asked to prioritise allegations of targeted violence, harassment and molestation of female protesters.
It will also examine allegations of grievous injuries and harm caused to protesters by police and security personnel, including the chain of command that led to such actions, those responsible and whether existing laws, rules or norms were breached while using force.
Among specific issues to be examined by the committee are allegations of the use of pellet guns, electric batons, lathi charges and tear gas without adequate warning or proportionality.
Thousands of protesters joined the Cockroach Janta Party-led Sansad Chalo march on July 20, the first day of Monsoon session, demanding the resignation of Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.
In trying to stop the protesters, police fired tear gas and used batons, triggering clashes and violence.
