0 months ago
Supreme Court: listen to, pacify youth over protest violence
Many students in India were very upset because a big exam called NEET-UG had a paper leak.
Some of them marched to Parliament on July 20 to complain.
During that march, there was violence and some people threw stones.
Now the Supreme Court, the highest court in the country, is helping decide what to do.
The Chief Justice said that the government should listen to young people and talk to them calmly.
He said using too much force could make things worse.
A lawyer said the people who organized the march should also be held responsible.
He said stone throwers should not just get away without any punishment.
The court said it wants to hear everyone, including the government, before it decides.
So for now, the judges will keep listening to all sides.
The Supreme Court heard a plea seeking accountability for violence during the July 20 Sansad Chalo march over the NEET-UG paper leak.
Chief Justice Surya Kant said youngsters need pacification and counselling, warning that aggressive state force could precipitate further violence.
Petitioner's counsel Rizwan Ahmed asked where accountability of the so-called organisers was 15 days after the march.
Ahmed referred to the Cockroach Janta Party as an unregistered organisation whose members are still giving provocative statements on channels.
The court tagged the petition with other pleas on the student protests and said it is open to hearing the central government's view.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana; petitioner Maneesh Kumar Solanki (former Air Force official) and his counsel Advocate Rizwan Ahmed.
- What
- A plea seeking accountability for the violence during the July 20 Sansad Chalo (Parliament) march over the NEET-UG paper leak issue, with the bench urging counselling of youth and restraint by forces.
- Where
- The Supreme Court of India; the march in question was to Parliament.
- When
- The hearing was held on a Wednesday, roughly 15 days after the July 20 march.
- Why
- To address demands for accountability over violence during the student protest linked to the NEET-UG paper leak, including allegations of police excesses and the conduct of the organisers.
Pacify and Counsel Protesters
Hold Organisers and Stone-Pelters Accountable
Response to Youth Protesters
Pacify and Counsel Protesters
Youngsters should be pacified and counselled with advisory consulting; listening to them is the most powerful source, and aggressive force in the name of the state could aggravate the situation and precipitate further violence.
Hold Organisers and Stone-Pelters Accountable
Organisers flouted several police conditions and stone-pelters cannot be allowed to go scot-free just because the government was caught on the wrong foot; the petition sought community service, not punitive measures.
Accountability of the Organisers
Pacify and Counsel Protesters
The better course is to counsel and pacify the youth; the court is open to all suggestions and viewpoints and will also hear the central government's view.
Hold Organisers and Stone-Pelters Accountable
Fifteen days have passed and there is still no accountability of the so-called organisers, who reportedly remain unregistered (Cockroach Janta Party) and keep giving provocative statements on channels; a bad precedent cannot be set.
Precedent for Other States
Pacify and Counsel Protesters
Law and order machinery is well conversant with such situations and needs to show restraint so the situation does not go out of hand.
Hold Organisers and Stone-Pelters Accountable
If the government bends over backwards in the national capital, it sets a precedent for states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where incidents such as stone pelting on buses have occurred; a young man died in a Rajasthan law and order incident.
Key facts
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
- Petitioner
- Maneesh Kumar Solanki (former Air Force official)
- Petitioner's Counsel
- Advocate Rizwan Ahmed
- Event in Question
- July 20 Sansad Chalo march to Parliament
- Protest Issue
- NEET-UG paper leak
- Organiser Referenced
- Cockroach Janta Party (described as unregistered)
- Court Action
- Tagged with other pleas; awaits central government's view
Quotes
Chief Justice Surya Kant
Chief Justice of India presiding over the bench
“Any aggressive force coming from the other side in the name of the mighty state may also unnecessarily aggravate the situation and precipitate… further violence”
indianexpress.com
“Stone pelters cannot be just allowed to go scot‑free without any consideration just because the government was caught on the wrong foot.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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