The Supreme Court has said that whoever committed atrocities or took the law into his own hands during the 20th July protest should be punished. Chief Justice Surya Kant said that movements are an essential part of democracy and there is a need for a clear protocol to control the police response to demonstrations and protests across the country.
The Supreme Court made this comment on Tuesday while hearing the action taken on the student protest during the July 20 march organized by the Cockroach Janata Party. Chief Justice Surya Kant has demanded an impartial investigation into police brutality. The court has said that if no responsibility is fixed then there is no point in investigation.
The court said that an impartial and independent investigation is necessary into all the allegations related to police excesses against the protesting students. The court said that whenever the prescribed protocol is violated, the law should take its course.
Lathi charge is not right to suppress the movement
During the hearing on Monday, the court had said that lathicharge cannot be justified just to suppress the movement. The court condemned the excessive use of force against students and protesters during CJP’s Chalo Sansad march on July 20. During the hearing on Tuesday, the court said that the court is concerned about the injuries caused to the protestors and policemen during the protest. Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that the self-imposed discipline of protestors and policemen is an essential part of democracy.
Protest is necessary in democracy, but violence is not.
Justice Surya Kant said that if any excess has taken place, it can be seen without any discrimination. This issue is of the entire country. It cannot be that there is any movement and lathi charge is used to suppress it and it cannot be that there is violence in these protests. The Chief Justice said that protests are a part of democracy, but violence in it is not acceptable. During the hearing, the issue of use of AK-47 rifles against protesters in Bihar was also raised, on which the court said that they will look at guidelines on protests for the entire country.