New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to urgently hear a petition alleging excessive force by Delhi Police against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Sansad Chalo' march. This decision by the apex court comes a day after the Delhi High Court also refused an immediate hearing on a similar matter.
The petition was brought before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan. Seeking an urgent listing, the counsel representing the petitioner informed the court about alleged police brutality, particularly against students, during the recent protests. The counsel also offered video evidence to substantiate these claims, requesting the matter be listed for hearing on Thursday.
However, the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, explicitly stated that the bench was not inclined to examine video footage at the mentioning stage. He remarked that the court did not have the time or interest to watch such content, making it clear that the request for an urgent listing based on video evidence would not be entertained. When the counsel reiterated the allegations of students being beaten and again referred to the video footage, the CJI firmly dismissed the request, stressing the court's stance on not wasting its time on such submissions at this preliminary stage.
The petition reportedly contains three substantive prayers challenging the police action. The Supreme Court's refusal to grant an urgent hearing mirrors the Delhi High Court's earlier decision, indicating a judicial disinclination to fast-track matters related to the protest crackdown at this juncture.
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