‘Don’t waste our time’: Supreme Court declines urgent hearing on plea over CJP protest crackdown

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to urgently hear a plea seeking suo motu action over the alleged police excesses during the July 20 crackdown on student protesters in Delhi, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asking the petitioner to pursue the matter through the appropriate legal process.

When a lawyer sought an urgent listing, claiming the case involved police action against students participating in the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, the CJI remarked, “Don’t waste our time, and don’t waste your time.”

The counsel argued that the protest centred on issues affecting lakhs of students, including the NEET paper leak controversy and reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA). However, the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, declined to entertain the plea.

When the lawyer offered to submit videos allegedly showing police personnel assaulting protesters, the bench responded that it was “not interested in videos” and refused an urgent listing.

The decision came a day after the Delhi High Court also declined to urgently hear a similar petition concerning the police action.

The plea relates to the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest, during which thousands of demonstrators marched towards Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accountability over alleged examination paper leaks and reforms to the examination system. Police used barricades, tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd after protesters attempted to move towards Parliament.

The incident has since sparked a political confrontation, with the Opposition demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the resignation of Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and action against those responsible for the alleged police excesses.

Meanwhile, the CJP has expanded its list of demands, calling for the release of Sonam Wangchuk, withdrawal of all FIRs against protesters, compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide, and an end to legal action against those who participated in the July 20 demonstration.