NEW DELHI, August 20: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday ordered the formation of a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) to launch an independent investigation into allegations of police excesses and widespread violence during recent student protests.
The independent panel will be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy. The decision comes in the wake of intense student demonstrations, particularly the “Chalo Sansad” rally at Jantar Mantar last month, where youth protested over alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities.
The Committee’s Mandate and Composition
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana structured the HPEC to maintain neutrality by bringing in high-level experts from outside the directly affected states.
Apart from Justice Reddy, the high-powered panel includes:
- Justice Ravi Shankar Jha (Former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court)
- Justice Shalinder Kaur (Former Delhi High Court Judge)
- Rishi Kumar Shukla (Former Central Bureau of Investigation Director)
- Dr. L.R. Bishnoi (Retired Meghalaya Director General of Police)
The apex court has granted the committee the power to seek assistance from forensic, technical, and domain experts. Complainants and witnesses will also be allowed to submit documentary evidence and suggestions anonymously to protect their identities.
Core Areas of Investigation
According to reports by LiveLaw and The Wire, the committee’s scope is two-fold, balancing accountability for law enforcement with the investigation of unruly elements within the demonstrations:
- Police Excesses: The HPEC will probe whether security agencies deployed excessive force unlawfully. This includes evaluating the use of pellet guns, electric batons, lathi charges, and tear gas without adequate warning, alongside probing allegations of targeted violence, harassment, and molestation of female protesters.
- Protester Violence: The committee will concurrently look into allegations raised by authorities regarding targeted violence by protesters against security personnel, injuries sustained by officers, and the destruction of public property.
Evidence Preservation and Next Steps
The Supreme Court has issued strict directives ordering Delhi Police, paramilitary forces, and associated investigating agencies to safely preserve all digital footprints of the demonstrations. This includes CCTV feeds, drone footage, body-worn camera recordings, videography, wireless communication logs, and PCR call data from last month’s events. All records must be directly handed over to the HPEC.
The court clarified that the ongoing inquiry will not freeze internal disciplinary procedures, allowing security forces to take parallel administrative actions against officers found violating conduct rules.
The HPEC has been directed by the top court to fast-track its probe into the harassment of female protesters and submit its first interim report at the earliest. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing on this matter for September 10, 2026.
