CJP Accuses Centre of Resisting Supreme Court Move to Quash Protesters' FIRs
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday accused the Union government of resisting the Supreme Court's efforts to facilitate the quashing of FIRs filed against students and demonstrators following protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The outfit warned it would convene its National Working Committee within two days to plan nationwide agitation if the Centre does not take concrete steps toward fulfilling earlier assurances.
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the Supreme Court asked the Union government three times during Tuesday's hearing to provide a list of FIRs registered against protesters so that the bench could consider quashing them under Article 142. Das alleged that the government's counsel did not commit to furnishing the list and resisted the move.
The apex court was hearing matters related to alleged violence during the protest held in and around Jantar Mantar on July 20. The CJP had previously called off its nationwide agitation on July 25 after receiving assurances from Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh regarding the withdrawal of FIRs, protection from punitive action, and compensation to affected families.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the petitioners, told the court that the Centre had agreed to the demands when the agitation ended. Das noted that the court offered an alternative to handle approximately 2,800 cases involving serious criminal charges separately on their merits, while quashing cases against peaceful student protesters.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, announced it would constitute an independent high-powered committee comprising retired apex court and high court judges, a former Director General of Police, and a former CBI director. The committee will examine allegations of police excesses against protesters as well as violence against police personnel, with a formal order expected on Wednesday.
CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh demanded that the organisation's representatives be included in the panel. She stated that the last formal meeting between the CJP and the government delegation occurred on August 2, after which a lawyer-vetted draft was shared without further government response. Das also questioned the constitutionality of using facial recognition technology and CCTV surveillance on demonstrators during the Jantar Mantar gathering.
