Youth protests: SC forms panel to probe police excesses, violence against security forces

The Supreme Court on Thursday formed an enquiry committee to investigate the alleged police excesses during last month’s youth protests and violence against security forces.

The five-member panel will be headed by Justice R Subhash Reddy, a retired Supreme Court judge. The other members are former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation Director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya police chief LR Bishnoi.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order on Tuesday while hearing petitions alleging that the police used excessive force against protesters marching to Parliament in Delhi on July 20. The order was published on the court’s website on Thursday.

During the protest, several demonstrators were injured after the security personnel used lathis, fired tear gas and pellet guns to disperse the crowd.

The petitioners also pointed out instances of the police in Bihar using allegedly excessive force against protesters who were demonstrating in solidarity with the youth agitation in Delhi.

In its order, the court said that the committee will examine the suggestions made by the petitioners as well as the respondents, which includes the Union government.

The petitioners have suggested that the panel should examine the use of...

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