India Supreme Court Bars Baton Charge Against Peaceful Protesters

The Supreme Court of India ruled that police may not use baton charges solely because a gathering is a protest, affirming that the constitutional right to peaceful assembly is fully protected. The bench, comprising Justices Suryakant, Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan, said that any use of force must be justified by violence, not merely the presence of a demonstration.

The court will also formulate nationwide guidelines for police handling of protests. It is hearing petitions arising from July 20 incidents in Delhi, where police allegedly used batons, tear‑gas and pellet guns on student demonstrators, and from Bihar, where similar force was reported. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the police of employing pellet‑gun fire against protestors. The hearing is scheduled for July 28.