New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to urgently hear a plea challenging the Delhi Police’s action against student protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led “Chalo Sansad” march held on July 20, with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant refusing to entertain the request for immediate listing.
The matter was mentioned before a Bench comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana, seeking suo motu intervention into the alleged police excesses during the protest in the national capital.
“Don’t Waste Our Time”: CJI to Petitioner
As the lawyer requested urgent listing of the matter, the Chief Justice firmly declined the request.
“Don’t waste our time, and don’t waste your time,” CJI Surya Kant told the counsel.
The petitioner argued that the protest involved issues affecting lakhs of students, including alleged examination paper leaks, concerns surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), and demands for reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA).
However, the Bench remained unconvinced and responded, “Thank you very much,” before declining urgent listing.
Court Refuses to Examine Videos
The lawyer further submitted that there were videos allegedly showing Delhi Police personnel assaulting unarmed protesters and offered to place the footage before the court.
The Bench, however, declined the offer.
“We are not interested in videos; we don’t have time to watch,” the Chief Justice observed.
The court consequently refused to grant an urgent hearing or initiate suo motu proceedings.
Second Judicial Refusal in Two Days
The Supreme Court’s decision came a day after the Delhi High Court also declined to urgently hear a similar plea concerning the police action.
Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, while refusing urgent circulation of the petition, had remarked:
“Don’t drag the Court into this.”
Background: The ‘Chalo Sansad’ Protest
The controversy stems from the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party after a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar that had continued for more than three weeks.
The protest coincided with the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, with thousands of students marching towards Parliament demanding:
- Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
- Accountability over alleged examination paper leaks.
- Reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA).
- Action over alleged student suicides linked to examination-related issues.
Police Crackdown During the March
As protesters attempted to proceed towards Parliament, Delhi Police erected multiple barricades across central Delhi.
According to police, a large group breached security barricades and attempted to move towards the Parliament complex, prompting security personnel to use tear gas shells and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.
Several videos later surfaced on social media showing police personnel using force against protesters, many of whom appeared unarmed. Some protesters were seen sustaining injuries during the crackdown.
Delhi Police, however, maintained that the crowd had turned violent and allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, making the use of force necessary to restore order.
Injury Figures and Political Reactions
Hospital authorities reportedly stated that nearly 100 protesters received medical treatment following the clashes, while Delhi Police said around 60 police personnel were injured during the incident.
A 22-year-old woman injured in the police action reportedly continues to remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
The incident triggered sharp political reactions, with Opposition Members of Parliament staging protests inside and outside Parliament before later holding a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to the students allegedly subjected to police excesses and reiterated the Opposition’s demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
CJP Expands Its Demands
As its agitation entered the 32nd day, the Cockroach Janta Party expanded its list of demands.
Apart from reiterating demands for the Education Minister’s resignation and reforms in the examination system, the party has also sought:
- Release of activist Sonam Wangchuk.
- ₹1 crore compensation for families of students allegedly driven to suicide.
- Withdrawal of all FIRs and legal proceedings against participants in the July 20 protest.
For now, the Supreme Court has declined to accord urgent consideration to the matter, leaving the petitioners to pursue available legal remedies through the regular judicial process.
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