The Supreme Court has declined a plea seeking reconstitution of the High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) probing violence during the July Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, observing that the panel had only recently started its work.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana termed the objections against the committee premature and based on conjecture.
“We are constrained to observe, with some measure of disquiet, that aspersions have been cast upon the HPEC in a manner that is both premature and precipitate,” the bench said.
The five-member HPEC, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, was constituted on August 18 to examine allegations of excessive police force against protesters and violence against security personnel.
The Court directed it to initially examine allegations involving pellet guns, targeted violence, harassment of women protesters and destruction of property.
The Court also ordered confidentiality for vulnerable witnesses and directed the Delhi Police to assess the threat perception and provide protection to a 14-year-old protester and her family following alleged threats. The HPEC was directed to appoint a Member Secretary and submit its first report at the earliest.
