Our Bureau
New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Thursday constituted a five-member High-Powered Expert Committee to investigate allegations of excessive and disproportionate use of force by police, paramilitary forces and other security personnel during protests over the NEET examination paper leak. The panel, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, will examine incidents reported at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and other locations.
The committee was formed while hearing petitions alleging police excesses against student protesters. According to reports, its mandate will include examining allegations of serious injuries, harassment and molestation of protesters, particularly women, as well as claims of violence against security personnel. The court has also directed authorities to preserve relevant CCTV, drone and body-camera footage to assist the inquiry.
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, besides Justice R Subhash Reddy.
The Supreme Court’s intervention follows protests linked to allegations surrounding the NEET examination system and concerns raised by students over its integrity. The court has asked the committee to assess whether the force used against protesters was excessive or disproportionate and to examine the circumstances surrounding injuries and alleged misconduct.
The inquiry will also consider allegations of violence by protesters and damage to public property, ensuring that the circumstances involving both demonstrators and security personnel are examined. The committee’s findings are expected to provide an independent assessment of the events and help determine whether further action or accountability is warranted.