Youth protests: SC to form panel to investigate police excesses, violence against security forces

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it will set up a committee to look into alleged police excesses during last month’s youth protests and violence against security forces, Bar and Bench reported.

The committee will comprise a former judge of the Supreme Court, a former chief justice of a High Court and a senior retired police officer.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said that it will pass the order on Wednesday once it receives suggestions from different parties on other members to be included in the panel, PTI reported.

The court said it will order that videos and security camera footage of the violence during the July 20 march to Parliament be handed over to the committee.

“Whosoever is responsible, there can be no excuse and no justification,” Kant was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench. “It must be taken seriously and taken to its logical conclusion.”

The bench said that the committee would also look into allegations that female protesters faced sexual assault and online harassment.

The Supreme Court also said that it will consider using its extraordinary powers to quash first information reports against protesting students, but clarified that cases involving persons with criminal antecedents could be dealt with separately.

The court was on Tuesday hearing a batch of...

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