New Delhi/Alive News: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the committee investigating alleged violence and police excesses during the student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on July 20 has received very few complaints. The committee has not been able to reach any firm conclusions due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
The High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), headed by former judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy, informed the court that only one complainant appeared with an affidavit at its meeting on October 29.
The committee had launched an online portal and provided an email facility to collect complaints from victims. However, the response has remained limited.
Notices Published in 149 Newspapers
According to the committee’s report, an online portal was launched on October 13. People can submit complaints without disclosing their names, Aadhaar numbers or other personal details.
Public notices were also published in 149 newspapers across the country. Complaints were invited through email, post and in-person submissions. Despite these efforts, very few complaints were received through the portal, while none were submitted through other channels.
Petitioners Raise Questions Over Police Action
Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the petitioners, told the court that complaints had already been submitted to the committee before and after the portal was launched.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan suggested forwarding videos, petitions and affidavits already submitted to the Supreme Court to the committee. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the suggestion, arguing that claims about the number of victims made by third parties could be different from the actual figures.
Grover also alleged that no FIR had been registered in connection with the violence and questioned who had authorised the use of pellet guns against protesters.
SC Directs Committee to Examine Available Evidence
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked the petitioners to encourage victims to submit their accounts before the committee. The court also allowed them to forward relevant videos, affidavits and other documents to the HPEC.
The committee was directed to seek responses from the concerned parties and submit interim reports at regular intervals.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi clarified that the committee’s formation would not prevent police authorities from taking action against personnel found guilty of misconduct.
The court also accepted the resignation of retired Meghalaya DGP L.R. Bishnoi, who was one of the committee members.
Clashes During March Towards Parliament
Violence broke out on July 20 when students led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) marched towards Parliament. Security personnel used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters.
The movement had spread to several cities, with students demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest began on June 20 and ended on July 25.
On August 18, the Supreme Court constituted a five-member committee to investigate allegations of police excesses against students and attacks on security personnel.
