Supreme Court forms committee to probe NEET protest police excesses

The Supreme Court of India has established a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) to investigate allegations of police misconduct during protests related to the NEET examination. The committee will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge R. Subhash Reddy.

The panel is tasked with examining 12 specific issues, including the alleged excessive use of force such as pellet guns, lathi charges, electric batons, and tear gas. It will also investigate claims of violence and harassment against women protesters, surveillance methods, and the use of prohibitory orders. Additionally, the committee will look into counter-allegations of violence and vandalism committed by demonstrators.

Other committee members include former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla, and retired Meghalaya DGP Dr. L.R. Bishnoi. The court has directed the panel to submit an interim report regarding allegations of targeted violence and the secondary victimization of women protesters. The investigation will also review the police chain of command to identify those responsible for orders that may have led to excessive force.