Can't lathi-charge just because of agitation: Supreme Court's big remark
The court made the observation as a fresh batch of petitions regarding lathi-charge on protesters in various parts of the country were mentioned before it.
In a significant development amid the growing debate over alleged police excesses on protesters during the recent wave of student protests across the country, the Supreme Court on Monday orally observed that lathi-charge cannot be launched merely because of agitation.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, made the observation as a fresh batch of petitions regarding alleged use of excessive force on protesters in various parts of the country were mentioned before it. One of the petitions has been filed by a group of students who claim they were beaten during the protests.
A plea filed by policemen allegedly beaten by protesters was also mentioned before the court.
Justice Joymala Bagchi, one of the members of the three-member Bench, said, "All are of equal concern. Policemen should also not be attacked. We can ask the state to explain why adequate SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are not in place for the police."
The court listed all the fresh petitions for hearing on Tuesday, July 28. One of the pleas also alleged that AK-47 rifles were used to disperse protesters in Bihar's Siwan.
"We will list all these matters tomorrow. Every citizen should be protected. If there are excesses committed, that should be prevented. There should be protocols. It's not only about Delhi. Agitation has been held in various places. It cannot be merely because there is an agitation, you do a lathi-charge," CJI Surya Kant remarked orally.
He added, "There has to be self-evolved discipline that is integral to democracy."
CJI Surya Kant further observed that a balance must be struck between allowing young people to openly express their dissent and preventing anti-social elements from exploiting such demonstrations.
"There should be a protocol in place that if youth want to agitate, they should be given the space. But if antisocial elements are present, that should not be allowed," the CJI said.
This comes as the debate over alleged use of indiscriminate force on protesters gains momentum in the country following the student agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party over NEET-related irregularities at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
In a significant development amid the growing debate over alleged police excesses on protesters during the recent wave of student protests across the country, the Supreme Court on Monday orally observed that lathi-charge cannot be launched merely because of agitation.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, made the observation as a fresh batch of petitions regarding alleged use of excessive force on protesters in various parts of the country were mentioned before it. One of the petitions has been filed by a group of students who claim they were beaten during the protests.
A plea filed by policemen allegedly beaten by protesters was also mentioned before the court.
Justice Joymala Bagchi, one of the members of the three-member Bench, said, "All are of equal concern. Policemen should also not be attacked. We can ask the state to explain why adequate SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are not in place for the police."
The court listed all the fresh petitions for hearing on Tuesday, July 28. One of the pleas also alleged that AK-47 rifles were used to disperse protesters in Bihar's Siwan.
"We will list all these matters tomorrow. Every citizen should be protected. If there are excesses committed, that should be prevented. There should be protocols. It's not only about Delhi. Agitation has been held in various places. It cannot be merely because there is an agitation, you do a lathi-charge," CJI Surya Kant remarked orally.
He added, "There has to be self-evolved discipline that is integral to democracy."
CJI Surya Kant further observed that a balance must be struck between allowing young people to openly express their dissent and preventing anti-social elements from exploiting such demonstrations.
"There should be a protocol in place that if youth want to agitate, they should be given the space. But if antisocial elements are present, that should not be allowed," the CJI said.
This comes as the debate over alleged use of indiscriminate force on protesters gains momentum in the country following the student agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party over NEET-related irregularities at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
In a significant development amid the growing debate over alleged police excesses on protesters during the recent wave of student protests across the country, the Supreme Court on Monday orally observed that lathi-charge cannot be launched merely because of agitation.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, made the observation as a fresh batch of petitions regarding alleged use of excessive force on protesters in various parts of the country were mentioned before it. One of the petitions has been filed by a group of students who claim they were beaten during the protests.
A plea filed by policemen allegedly beaten by protesters was also mentioned before the court.
Justice Joymala Bagchi, one of the members of the three-member Bench, said, "All are of equal concern. Policemen should also not be attacked. We can ask the state to explain why adequate SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are not in place for the police."
The court listed all the fresh petitions for hearing on Tuesday, July 28. One of the pleas also alleged that AK-47 rifles were used to disperse protesters in Bihar's Siwan.
"We will list all these matters tomorrow. Every citizen should be protected. If there are excesses committed, that should be prevented. There should be protocols. It's not only about Delhi. Agitation has been held in various places. It cannot be merely because there is an agitation, you do a lathi-charge," CJI Surya Kant remarked orally.
He added, "There has to be self-evolved discipline that is integral to democracy."
CJI Surya Kant further observed that a balance must be struck between allowing young people to openly express their dissent and preventing anti-social elements from exploiting such demonstrations.
"There should be a protocol in place that if youth want to agitate, they should be given the space. But if antisocial elements are present, that should not be allowed," the CJI said.
This comes as the debate over alleged use of indiscriminate force on protesters gains momentum in the country following the student agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party over NEET-related irregularities at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
