NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear two separate petitions alleging police excesses against students protesting over the NEET paper leak and other examination irregularities on Monday.According to the apex court’s cause list for July 27, the matter will be heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.A bench led by the Chief Justice had agreed on July 24 to hear the petitions after the matter was mentioned for urgent listing, news agency PTI reported.“Police is using excessive force against the students,” senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan had told the bench while mentioning the pleas.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
Sankaranarayanan informed the court that two separate petitions had been filed over the violence during student protests held across the country.The Chief Justice then said the pleas would be listed for hearing on July 27.Students had been protesting in several states against the alleged paper leak.The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led march to Parliament in Delhi on July 20 witnessed clashes between protesters and security personnel.The protesters were demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue.According to sources, police used lathis and tear gas shells to disperse crowds attempting to march towards Parliament.On Saturday, the CJP called off its 36-day agitation after Pradhan resigned and the Centre accepted its other demands.Announcing his resignation, Pradhan said the developments of the past 10 days had “saddened” him deeply and that the issue was “not a matter of personal prestige”.On July 22, the Delhi high court sought responses from the Centre and the Delhi Police on two separate petitions alleging excessive use of force against protesters during the July 20 march to Parliament.The high court also directed the authorities to preserve all relevant records related to the police action, including CCTV footage and any videography.(With agency inputs)