SC Orders Release Of Minor Students; Says Probe Must Address Concerns of Families Of Injured Cops In CJP Protest

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 28) ordered authorities to release all students who are below 18 years of age. However, the top court made it clear that those having a criminal background will not get protection from arrest. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant made these remarks while hearing a batch of petitions alleging police crackdown during the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP's) July 20 "Sansad Chalo" protest march."Release all students below 18 years and students without any criminal antecedent," the bench noted. The court issued an interim order into the matter.The top court has ordered preservation of all CCTV, drone, body-camera, wireless communication, and PCR records relating to the nationwide student protests

and barred publication of protesters' personal data.The apex court also directed the formation of a high-power probe committee. The SC bench even directed that the probe into the incidents of violence during the protest should also address the concerns of families of over 200 injured police personnel."The allegations prima facie warrant consideration of a fair and independent probe, which must also address the concerns of families of over 200 injured police personnel. The Union and States have been asked to place their versions on record before the Court considers constituting an independent committee," the CJI said.The Court even issued notice to the Centre and chief secretaries of Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.Meanwhile, the apex court observed that the protest held at Delhi's Jantar Mantar was under constitutional limits. Questioning the Delhi Police's action against the protesters, the CJI stated. The CJI remarked that whoever has used excessive force against innocents, law must take its course.Notably, the protest led by the CJP at Jantar Mantar witnessed massive participation from students who were demanding former union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET UG paper leak."Protest is within constitutional limits. Two things can happen. We will examine whether those who wanted to prevent the protest indulged in excessive force, and whether that resulted in violence. We need inputs from all stakeholders. We will issue guidelines," CJI Surya Kant said."Whoever has used excessive force against innocents, the law must take its course. There should be an independent, fair, and transparent probe," he noted.