New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday addressed concerns regarding the composition of the constituted to investigate alleged police excesses during the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP’s) protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar last month.
The SC Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant assured petitioners that the committee will be supervised by the top court. The issue was raised before the bench during the mentioning for listing of the application.
The CJI made it clear that the Court did not appreciate the mentioning of names of judges in the application. The Chief Justice said the apprehensions raised by the petitioners were misplaced, stressing that the committee would function under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
“Apprehensions are misplaced. The panel will work under our supervision. We have not disposed of the case, and the petitioners can also assist the panel,” the CJI observed
The , headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Subhash Reddy, was constituted by the top court to look into allegations of excessive force used by police during the protests. Notably, lawyers, including Prashant Bhushan, representing key petitioners expressed reservations over certain members of the panel and sought listing of an application seeking its reconstitution.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed the plea, describing it as “very mysterious” and objecting to the practice of suggesting names of judges for the committee. “This is not a political platform. Something else is happening here,” Mehta submitted. He also said that some petitioners appeared to have “perennial misgivings about every institution.”
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the applicant, clarified that he was only seeking listing of the application and was not asking the Court to decide the issue at the mentioning stage.
Bhushan, representing one of the petitioners, submitted that the application reflected a common concern among the petitioners.
The Court nevertheless agreed to list the application along with the main matter for consideration.
The controversy erupted after some petitioners raised concerns over the composition of the committee soon after its formation. Bhushan had earlier expressed reservations about the appointment of former Supreme Court judge Justice Subhash Reddy as its head, as well as the inclusion of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shailender Kaur, citing her past judicial decisions.
“Very weak inquiry committee formed by the SC in the cockroach Janta party protest case. Headed by a former SC judge who was CJ of Gujarat HC, & another judge who denied bail to Umar Khalid. There were outstanding former CJIs & other judges who could have been appointed. This committee will not have public credibility,” BHushan had said in its X post.
The Supreme Court had last week constituted the High-Powered Enquiry Committee to examine allegations relating to the use of force by police and security personnel during the protests.