SC panel to probe police conduct in NEET protests
The Supreme Court (SC) of India on Thursday formed a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) to investigate claims of police excesses, violence, and other incidents during last month’s student protests over the NEET exam paper leak. Justice R Subhash Reddy, a former SC judge, will lead the committee. The group will look into allegations of excessive force by security personnel and violence by protesters, with special attention to reports of targeted violence, harassment and molestation of women protesters.
The other committee members are Ravi Shankar Jha, former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Shalinder Kaur, former judge of the Delhi High Court, Rishi Kumar Shukla, former Director of the CBI, and Dr LR Bishnoi, retired Director General of Police in Meghalaya.
The panel was formed in response to several petitions regarding the events surrounding the July 20 march by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to the Parliament. Similar protests also took place in other States over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 exam.
Following the court’s order, the HPEC will look into claims of excessive force and violence by police and other agencies against protesters.
Specific accusations include the use of pellet guns, electric batons, lathi charges and tear gas without enough warning and disproportionate use of violence by Delhi Police and other agencies. Some of these actions reportedly caused serious and lasting injuries. The panel will review the chain of command behind these actions, identify those responsible, and determine whether any laws, rules or norms were violated.
A major area of concern is the issue of targeted acts of violence, harassment and molestation of female protesters. Because these are serious and sensitive issues, the Supreme Court has told the committee to treat them as a top priority.
The committee will also check if police actions were appropriate and reasonable. Other topics include police surveillance, medical care and compensation for victims, and whether certain types of projectiles or pellets should be banned.
The court also noted claims that police officers were victims of violence. It has ordered that video footage and CCTV recordings from July 20 be given to the committee for review.
