The Supreme Court has rejected a plea seeking changes to the five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee investigating violence and alleged police excesses during the CJP-led student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and other parts of the country.
The plea questioned the impartiality of some members of the committee, which is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy. The court, however, said the objections were based on conjecture and did not have credible material to support the apprehension of bias.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, had earlier indicated that it had constituted the panel after careful consideration. The court has now said the committee should be allowed to carry out its inquiry under its supervision.
Why Was The Committee Set Up?
The Supreme Court constituted the five-member panel in August to examine allegations arising from the student protests held in July, including claims of excessive or disproportionate use of force by police and paramilitary personnel. The committee has also been tasked with examining allegations of violence by protesters against security personnel and damage to public property.
Besides Justice R. Subhash Reddy, the panel includes former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya DGP L.R. Bishnoi.
The court has also asked the committee to examine allegations of targeted violence, harassment and molestation of women protesters on priority. Its inquiry is being conducted under the Supreme Court’s supervision, with the panel expected to submit interim findings periodically.
