NEW DELHI, AUG 19 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would constitute a high-powered committee comprising retired apex court and high court judges, a former DGP, and an ex-CBI director to examine allegations of police excesses against student protesters in Delhi recently and violence against police personnel.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the court will consider using its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to quash FIRs in which there is no controversy or doubt and that clearly involve students.
The bench also comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana further said that everyone has to be mindful of the rights of students under Article 19 of the Constitution and emphasised that the right to protest or express dissent peacefully must be protected.
It said an order for constituting the committee would be released on Wednesday after it receives suggestions from different parties on other members to be included in the panel.
It said the high-powered committee will be entrusted with the task of fact-finding and it will be provided with all the necessary facilities. “We are quite sure that the committee will give an immediate voice and audience to any victim who approaches it. We will await the recommendations which the committee will make from time to time, and the necessary legal consequences would follow,” the top court said, after counsel for several petitioners submitted they were targeted by the authorities and public for participating in the protest.
The court said that the committee will also look into allegations concerning sexual assault and online harassment of female protestors and victimisation of other vulnerable persons through social media.
“Whosoever is responsible, there can be no excuse and no justification. It must be taken seriously and taken to its logical conclusion. That is why we are constituting a high-powered committee. The committee will look into each and every aspect of these matters,” CJI Kant said, adding that the panel would also examine complaints and allegations made by female protesters who were reportedly targeted during the protest march in Delhi and other areas.
The top court further said that it would direct the handing over of video footage and CCTV recordings of the violence during the July 20 Parliament march in Delhi to the high-powered committee for examination.
The bench was hearing a batch of pleas alleging police excesses against student protesters during the agitation spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and allegations of violence against police personnel.
