Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Rejects Changes to NEET Protest Probe Panel
The Supreme Court created a five-member committee to investigate clashes involving student protesters and police.
Some lawyers asked the court to replace the committee or change how it works.
They said one member might have a conflict of interest.
They also wanted the committee to have its own legal representatives instead of government counsel.
The court said it trusted the committee and would not assume that it was biased.
The committee is led by former Supreme Court judge R Subhash Reddy.
It will collect people’s statements, documents and other evidence.
The committee will examine alleged excessive police force, including the use of pellet guns, as well as alleged violence by protesters.
The protests began at Jantar Mantar on June 20 and ended on July 25 after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the government accepted other demands.
The Supreme Court refused to reconstitute its five-member committee investigating alleged police excesses and violence involving student protesters in Delhi.
Petitioners alleged a former northeastern state DGP on the panel had a conflict of interest and sought separate legal representation for the committee.
The court said it would not presume bias in a panel headed by former Supreme Court judge R Subhash Reddy and selected by the bench.
The committee will invite public submissions, including viewpoints, information, documents and evidence, under the court’s supervision.
The protests began at Jantar Mantar on June 20, included a July 20 march toward Parliament, and ended on July 25 after the government accepted demands and Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.
- Who
- The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, petitioners and their lawyers, the five-member committee, student protesters and police personnel.
- What
- The court declined to reconstitute or alter its high-powered committee investigating alleged police excesses against student protesters and alleged violence against police and security personnel.
- When
- The ruling was reported on September 10; the protests began on June 20, the Parliament march occurred on July 20, and the agitation ended on July 25.
- Where
- The proceedings took place before the Supreme Court, while the protests and clashes occurred in Delhi, including at Jantar Mantar and near Parliament.
- Why
- Petitioners sought changes because they alleged a committee member had a conflict of interest and requested independent legal representation for the panel.
Petitioners’ Concerns
Court and Government’s Position
Whether the committee should be reconstituted
Petitioners’ Concerns
Petitioners argued that a former northeastern state DGP on the panel had a potential conflict of interest because of an alleged relationship with a high functionary who could face investigation.
Court and Government’s Position
The Supreme Court refused to presume bias and said it would not reconstitute the committee, while indicating that it would examine specific reservations about the member.
Independent legal representation
Petitioners’ Concerns
Lawyers argued that the committee should function independently with a separate amicus and Advocate-on-Record rather than being represented through government counsel.
Court and Government’s Position
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the submissions and asked the court to disregard the allegations.
Assessment of responsibility for violence
Petitioners’ Concerns
The petitions alleged police excesses against student protesters, including the use of excessive force and pellet guns.
Court and Government’s Position
The committee’s mandate also includes examining alleged force and violence by protesters against police officers and other security personnel.
- Committee chair
- Former Supreme Court judge R Subhash Reddy
- Committee size
- Five members
- Other committee members
- Ravi Shankar Jha, Shalinder Kaur, Rishi Kumar Shukla and L R Bishnoi
- Issues under examination
- Alleged excessive police force, including pellet-gun use, and alleged violence by protesters against police and security personnel
- Public participation
- People may submit viewpoints, information, documents and evidence for the committee’s consideration
- Protest timeline
- The agitation began at Jantar Mantar on June 20, included a Parliament march on July 20, and was called off on July 25
- Reported police action
- Security personnel used lathis and teargas shells during clashes near Parliament
- Related administrative action
- A Greater Noida executive magistrate who issued a show-cause notice to a protesting student was reported suspended
