Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, whose remark calling a section of young people “cockroaches” triggered a nationwide movement that has now reached Parliament, said on July 22 that he was not interested in watching videos showing alleged police action against protesters on July 20. He also told the petitioner not to waste the court’s time. Thousands marched through New Delhi on Monday, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation after the Cockroach Janta Party’s online call. Police baton-charged protesters attempting to reach Parliament.
The Supreme Court responded swiftly and decisively.”Don’t waste our time and yours,” the Supreme Court declined lawyer Narendra Mishra’s request to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged police brutality against students during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest march in Delhi. Mishra had sought the court’s urgent intervention.
On Monday, thousands gathered on the streets of New Delhi, responding to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) online call demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Police baton-charged protesters attempting to march towards Parliament, intensifying demonstrations over alleged irregularities in major examinations. As officers in blue riot gear advanced near the protest site, panicked protesters scattered, seeking safety from the crackdown.
“I have the videos as well regarding police brutality… If it can be listed tomorrow (Thursday), students are there,” the lawyer said. The Chief Justice declined the request and made it clear that the bench was not inclined to examine video footage at the mentioning stage. “We are not interested in videos, we don’t have time to watch… We don’t want to watch videos,” the Chief Justice stated.
The petitioner urged the court to take suo motu cognisance of alleged violations of fundamental rights and the Delhi Police’s failure to follow binding court judgments during a peaceful protest. The plea also sought an independent judicial inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court bench and directions to register appropriate FIRs against responsible Delhi Police officials and other concerned authorities.
Protest organisers strongly criticised the authorities for their alleged high-handed approach, claiming that hundreds of demonstrators were injured during the crackdown. Calling it a dark day for Indian democracy, a CJP spokesperson said peaceful students protesting a genuine issue were brutally assaulted by Delhi Police. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court declined to urgently hear a petition challenging the alleged use of excessive force by police against students participating in the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest march towards Parliament.
“Don’t drag the court into all this,” a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia made the observation while listing the matter for hearing on Wednesday. The plea said activist Sonam Wangchuk, along with students and citizens, began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on June 28 over education reforms and alleged NEET paper leaks. It added the protest continued peacefully until July 17, with no incidents of violence reported.
The petition refers to July 18, alleging police entered the protest site on the 21st day of the hunger strike. Although officials said Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for medical reasons, it claims the protest site was cleared, several protesters were forcibly removed or detained against their wishes, and excessive force was used to disperse the gathering. The petition also alleges protesters were harassed and stopped from continuing their demonstration. It argues the incident raises serious constitutional concerns over police powers used to disperse peaceful assemblies within legal limits.
The petition argues that the police’s alleged actions created a chilling effect on peaceful protests and democratic dissent. It clarifies that the PIL does not seek relief for Sonam Wangchuk or any individual protester but aims to safeguard constitutional freedoms for all citizens. The petitioner says the requested reliefs are institutional, preventive, and meant to protect democratic rights. Among its principal prayers, the PIL seeks a direction to the Delhi Police Commissioner or another competent authority to conduct an independent, impartial and time-bound inquiry into police action at Jantar Mantar on July 18, focusing on alleged use of force, protesters’ detention, and disruption of the hunger strike there.