1 week ago
Supreme Court Panel Prioritises Sexual Assault Complaints From NEET Protest
The Supreme Court is examining claims about police actions during a student protest.
Some women protesters allegedly faced sexual assault or molestation.
The claims concern a protest held on July 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Lawyer Shobha Gupta asked the court to investigate the claims on its own.
She also suggested a safe way for alleged victims to submit complaints directly.
The court told its inquiry committee to examine sexual-assault complaints first.
The committee must quickly provide an interim report.
It is also investigating alleged excessive police force and alleged violence against police and other security personnel.
The Supreme Court directed its inquiry committee to prioritise sexual-assault complaints from women protesters.
The allegations relate to the July 20 NEET protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Senior advocate Shobha Gupta urged the court to take suo motu cognisance of the allegations.
The Chief Justice said the committee should submit an interim report immediately.
The five-member panel is also examining alleged police excesses, pellet-gun use and violence against security personnel.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, women protesters, senior advocate Shobha Gupta and a five-member inquiry committee.
- What
- The court directed the committee to prioritise allegations of sexual assault and molestation during the protest.
- Where
- Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India.
- When
- The alleged incidents occurred during the July 20 protest; the five-member committee was constituted on August 20.
- Why
- The court is examining allegations of police violence against protesters, including sexual-assault claims, alongside alleged violence against police and security personnel.
Protesters’ allegations and requests
Inquiry committee’s broader mandate
Alleged treatment of women protesters
Protesters’ allegations and requests
Shobha Gupta cited reports and social-media accounts alleging sexual assault and molestation, including an allegation that a police lathi was jabbed into a woman’s buttocks.
Inquiry committee’s broader mandate
The court did not determine the truth of the allegations; it directed the committee to examine the complaints on a priority basis and report promptly.
Complaint process
Protesters’ allegations and requests
Gupta requested a separate, direct mechanism for alleged victims, such as a district judge or designated authority, email address and publicised officer details.
Inquiry committee’s broader mandate
The court indicated that the existing inquiry committee had already been tasked with examining the issue, while Justice Bagchi noted that a separate writ petition had also been filed.
Scope of the investigation
Protesters’ allegations and requests
The request focused on alleged police violence against protesters, especially sexual-assault complaints against women.
Inquiry committee’s broader mandate
The committee’s broader mandate includes alleged excessive police force, pellet-gun use and alleged violence by protesters against police and other security personnel.
Key facts
- Protest date
- July 20
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Court direction
- Sexual-assault complaints should receive priority review.
- Interim report
- The committee was asked to submit an interim report immediately.
- Committee size
- Five members
- Committee chair
- Former Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy
- Additional issues
- Alleged excessive police force, pellet-gun use and violence against police and other security personnel.
Quotes
Chief Justice Surya Kant
Chief Justice of India and member of the Supreme Court bench hearing the matter.
“The committee has been requested to examine it on a priority basis, and immediately submit an interim report.”
thehansindia.com
“I am beseeching the court to take Suo Motu cognisance of these instances.”
deccanchronicle.com
thehansindia.com
Sources
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