NEET protest: Former judge R Subhash Reddy to head panel examining allegations of police excesses

PTI, August 20, 2026, New Delhi : The Supreme Court has formed a five-member high-powered committee headed by former top court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy to examine allegations of police excesses against student protesters in Delhi recently and violence against police personnel.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said the committee would also comprise 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 L R Bishnoi.

The committee has been asked to examine use of excessive force and violence against protesters by police, including the deployment of pellet guns, as well as the alleged use of force and violence by protesters against police officials and other security personnel.

"This HPEC (High-Powered Enquiry Committee) has been constituted bearing in mind a wide variety of considerations, including the individual expertise and experience of each of its members, as well as the diversity of the committee, among other factors.

"We are confident that the recommendations of the HPEC will be of invaluable assistance to this Court, and the committee will be able to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all such issues as merit due contemplation," the bench said in an order dated August 18 and uploaded on Thursday.

The apex court clarified that as a matter of abundant caution, the enquiry undertaken by the HPEC shall not be a one-time exercise. It asked the committee to undertake a continuous and periodic assessment of the issues and shall submit its interim findings periodically.

The apex court recommended that the HPEC should address certain issues on a priority basis, foremost amongst which is the matter relating to the alleged incidents of targeted violence, harassment and molestation of female protesters.

The HPEC may also examine issues about granting interim compensation to those injured on either side, whether police personnel or protesters, it said. The top court also asked the HPEC to submit a report on damage caused to public property resulting from the protesters' actions during the demonstrations.

This includes the destruction of and injury to government installations, vehicles and other assets belonging to the State and to private citizens alike.

The injuries sustained by the police forces while discharging their duties, as well as the consequent mental and emotional trauma borne by their families, merit due recognition and consideration on a par with the grievances raised by the petitioners.

The apex court granted liberty to parties to approach the HPEC and submit such relevant material, documentary evidence, and suggestions as they may deem fit.

Liberty is also granted to complainants, representations and material to be provided anonymously so that the identity of the complainants and witnesses is protected, it added.

The top court also appointed advocates Ashima Mandla, Daksh Kadian and Astha Singh as nodal officers for better communication between parties.

The bench directed the police, paramilitary forces and other investigating agencies to preserve all CCTV footage, drone footage, body-worn camera recordings, videography, wireless communication records and PCR call logs pertaining to the student protests, furnish the entire record to the HPEC and extend their full cooperation.

"It is further clarified that the constitution of the HPEC by us shall in no way deter or debar the police authorities or other security forces from taking administrative or disciplinary action against such of their officers as may be found to be in contravention of the rules governing their conduct," the bench said.