SC to Hear Police Action Case on July 28, Reaffirms Right to Peaceful Demonstration

By: The Trek News Desk

The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear a batch of petitions on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, concerning allegations of excessive police action during the student protests over the NEET paper leak in New Delhi. The petitions relate to the police crackdown on demonstrators during the July 20 protest.

During earlier proceedings, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that the right to hold a peaceful protest is protected under the Constitution. He remarked that the mere presence of a public demonstration cannot justify the use of force by law enforcement authorities. The court also emphasised that allegations of excesses during peaceful protests should be examined through an independent process.

The petitions before the apex court challenge the police action against students who were protesting the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. In addition to the main petitions, the court has agreed to hear several intervention applications filed by other parties connected with the case.

During the proceedings, counsel representing the families of police personnel reportedly injured during the protests requested permission to place their concerns before the court. The counsel argued that the safety and welfare of officers deployed to maintain law and order during large public demonstrations should also receive due consideration.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that the government should explain whether adequate protective gear and other safety arrangements were provided to police personnel deployed during the protest. The bench observed that injuries sustained by both protesters and security personnel deserve equal attention while assessing the incident.

The Chief Justice also underlined the need for a standard operating framework governing police action during public demonstrations. He observed that protests should not automatically result in measures such as lathi charges and stressed the importance of maintaining public order while safeguarding democratic freedoms.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has denied allegations that pellet guns were used during the July 20 operation. According to officials, personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed under the supervision of the Delhi Police to manage the situation.

The hearing on July 28 is expected to address key questions relating to police conduct, the rights of peaceful protesters, and the standards that should govern crowd-control operations during public demonstrations.

Source: News Agencies