New Delhi: The on Tuesday directed a senior Delhi Police officer to appear in person and explain the alleged assault on women journalists during recent protests in the national capital.
The hearing in the matter is scheduled to take place on October 16.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana made the observation after senior advocate Indira Jaising mentioned a plea filed by the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), seeking protection measures for journalists covering protests, especially women journalists.
“We would like some senior officer to remain present here and explain,” the CJI Kant-led Bench said, as quoted in IANS.
The development came amid allegations that reporting on protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar were manhandled, detained, and prevented from carrying out their professional duties on October 10 and 11.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan also reportedly referred to a separate contempt petition alleging that police personnel assaulted journalists, thereby violating the Supreme Court’s October 10 order.
The NWMI has approached the Supreme Court through a writ petition, seeking directions to protect the safety and dignity of journalists reporting on protests and other public events. The organisation alleged assault on woemn journalists during the recent protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls.
The plea stated that the ongoing inquiry into alleged police excesses does not specifically address concerns over journalists’ access to protest sites, their detention or forced removal, or the safeguards needed to ensure independent reporting and news gathering, reported Live Law.
The Supreme Court of India issued an order on October 10, 2026, directing that media persons covering ongoing political protests in Delhi must not be harassed, obstructed, or assaulted. This directive was passed by a bench led by CJI Surya Kant amid a massive police clampdown on protests against the CEC and electoral revisions.