The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a batch of petitions alleging police excesses during recent protests over examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana will hear the matter. The court had earlier indicated that it may constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a former Supreme Court judge, to examine allegations of police excesses, injuries to protesters and attacks on police personnel.

On July 28, the court directed states not to take coercive action against protesting students and ordered the release of detained minors with no criminal antecedents. It also said a fair and independent investigation was needed to determine responsibility for any excesses or violence during the protests.

The bench took note of allegations that pellet guns, nail-studded lathis, rubber bullets and electric batons were used against protesters, resulting in injuries to several students and young women.

While allowing investigations into FIRs already registered, the court directed that no coercive action be taken against protesting students, except those with criminal antecedents.

The Supreme Court also issued notices to the governments of Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala, seeking their responses before deciding on the constitution of an independent committee or SIT.

As an interim measure, the court directed authorities to preserve CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-camera footage, wireless communication records, PCR logs and other digital evidence related to the protests. It also ordered that the personal information and digital data of protesters should not be disclosed publicly.

The protests began after demonstrations over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak escalated in Delhi and several other states. Protesters had demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The agitation concluded on Saturday after Pradhan resigned and the government agreed to compensation for the families of those who died during the protests and to withdraw FIRs against protesters.

Inputs from PTI

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