The biggest shock of the court! When the students reached the Supreme Court after the Jantar Mantar CJP protest and police lathicharge, the judges said something that shocked everyone. After all, why did the court say “don’t waste time”? Now everyone’s eyes are on the investigation and hearing.
New Delhi: The anger that erupted in the country’s capital Delhi over alleged rigging in competitive examinations and the NEET paper leak controversy has now reached from the streets to the highest courts of the country. There is a huge stir in the legal circles after the Parliament march held on Monday under the banner of ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the police lathi charge on it. On one hand, violent clashes were seen between the police and protesting students in blue anti-riot uniforms on the streets of Delhi, while on the other hand, when the lawyers reached the Supreme Court regarding this matter, they got a very unexpected and strict message from the top court of the country.
What happened at Jantar Mantar that gave rise to the entire controversy?
On Monday, thousands of students and protesters were trying to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament. The protesters demanded that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign and comprehensive reforms be made in the examination system. Police stopped the march citing security concerns. After this, tension increased between the protesters and the police. It is alleged that the police used force to disperse the crowd, due to which many protesters were injured. The video and pictures that went viral on social media sparked a national debate about this action.
“Don’t waste our and your time”: Why did the Supreme Court say this?
As soon as the case of alleged police brutality on the students protesting at Jantar Mantar came before the Supreme Court, the stand of the court was very strict and clear. When the petitioner’s lawyer sought permission to present before the court the live video evidence of the brutal thrashing and lathicharge of students by the Delhi Police, Chief Justice Surya Kant rejected it outright. The Chief Justice commented in a very stern tone, saying, “We do not want to see any video. Don’t waste our time and yours.” This strong and harsh reply of the court shocked the petitioners. While on one hand the spokesperson of CJP is terming this entire incident as ‘the most shameful day in the history of Indian democracy’, on the other hand this stance of the country’s largest court is an indication that the judiciary is keeping procedural limitations paramount before interfering in these cases.
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High Court also shocked: “Do not drag the court into all these matters.”
Right after the setback from the Supreme Court, an emergency petition was also filed in the Delhi High Court regarding this matter, seeking an urgent hearing. The public interest litigation (PIL) alleged use of “excessive force” against students and citizens by the city police. But here too the protesters were disappointed. Chief Justice D.K. The division bench of Justice Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia flatly refused to list the petition in the urgent category. The bench warned the petitioner in blunt words, saying, “Do not drag the court into all these matters.” However, considering the sensitivity of the case, the High Court has directed to list it for regular hearing on Wednesday. This attitude of the courts makes it clear that there is a certain limit to judicial activism on sensitive issues related to law and order.
Mystery of the 21st day: Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike and that midnight action
Many such shocking and mysterious claims have been made in this petition filed in the court, which exposes the events going on behind the scenes of Jantar Mantar for the last few days. According to the petition, noted activist Sonam Wangchuk and several other students had launched an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar from June 28 against reforms in the education system and NEET paper leak. It has been claimed that till July 17 this movement was completely peaceful. But the real suspense began on the night of July 18, when a heavy police force entered the protest site on the 21st day of the hunger strike. The government says Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital due to serious medical reasons, but the petition alleges that this was a deliberate police strategy to forcibly vacate the protest site and disperse the peaceful gathering.
What allegations were made in the petition?
The petition claims that a peaceful protest was going on at Jantar Mantar under the leadership of student and social activist Sonam Wangchuk demanding education reforms and transparency in the examination system. The petitioner alleges that on July 18, the police vacated the protest site, detained many people and used more force than necessary. Additionally, protesters were allegedly prevented from continuing the protest. The petition also states that this matter is not just about any one person, but is a question related to peaceful protest and constitutional freedom of expression.
What do CJP and protesters say? Eyes fixed on demand for independent investigation
The main argument of the petitioner is that the police action at Jantar Mantar on July 18 is not just a matter of an individual, but it is a major blow to the constitutional freedom of every citizen and the right to peaceful dissent (Democratic Dissent). The main objective of this PIL is to direct the Delhi Police Commissioner to conduct an independent, impartial and time-bound investigation into the entire use of force, forcibly detaining the protesters and disrupting the hunger strike. Now the entire country’s eyes are on the hearing to be held in the High Court on Wednesday whether the court will seek answers from the police administration in this matter or will the problems of the protesters increase further.
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