SC hears NEET protest police excess pleas

The India — Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. K. Mohanan, heard a batch of petitions alleging police excesses against students protesting the NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities. The court asserted that the right to peaceful protest is absolutely guaranteed and that agitation cannot justify police excesses or lathi charges. It called for a uniform protocol for handling demonstrations across India. The hearing follows protests by the India — Rashtriya Janata Dal at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and in Bihar, which included a July 20 march to Parliament where clashes occurred. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25, leading to the end of the Jantar Mantar protest. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the protest with a hunger strike, ended it on July 23. Opposition MPs including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav protested in Parliament over alleged police brutality. The court also noted concerns about attacks on police personnel and will continue hearing on July 28.