SC to Hear NEET Protest Pleas, Says Right to Peaceful Protest Is Guaranteed

The Supreme Court of India in New Delhi on Monday affirmed that the right to peaceful protest is "absolutely guaranteed," as it agreed to hear a batch of petitions on Tuesday alleging police excesses against students protesting NEET paper leaks and examination irregularities across the country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana directed that all connected petitions regarding the protests be listed together for hearing on July 28.

Along with the pleas filed on behalf of protesting students, the apex court agreed to hear a separate petition filed by family members of police personnel who were allegedly attacked during the agitations.

Highlighting fundamental rights, Chief Justice Kant stated that civil agitation does not excuse excessive force by law enforcement officers.

"The Right to peaceful protest is absolutely guaranteed. That cannot be denied. Merely because there is agitation cannot justify police excesses," Chief Justice Kant said during the proceedings.

The Chief Justice also clarified that the life of every individual, including police personnel, is equally important.

Justice Bagchi stressed that injuries sustained by individuals, whether students or police officers, are of equal concern to the court. Justice Bagchi questioned why police personnel were not adequately equipped, such as with helmets, to manage such situations when deployed during the protests.

The apex court ordered all connected matters involving both student petitions and the plea from police families to be listed together on July 28 for hearing.