Supreme Court Slams 'Lathi Charge' on Protesters, Upholds Peaceful Dissent as Fundamental Right

The Supreme Court of India today delivered a sharp rebuke to police action, declaring that protests, even agitated ones, do not automatically justify a 'lathi charge.' The Apex Court underscored that the right to peaceful protest is 'absolutely guaranteed,' while agreeing to hear petitions regarding alleged police excesses during the recent July 20 Parliament march by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi. This pivotal observation comes as police face scrutiny for using batons and tear gas on CJP protesters marching towards Parliament over the contentious NEET paper leak issue, an agitation that led to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recent resignation. While Delhi Police cited 'unruly' behavior and injured personnel, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has demanded a judicial inquiry into what it terms an 'unprovoked and disproportionate' use of force. The ruling highlights the ongoing tension between a citizen's fundamental right to assemble and the state's mandate to maintain public order. With a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant agreeing to hear a batch of pleas regarding police brutality tomorrow, alongside a separate petition from families of injured officers, the legal battle is just beginning. The Court's call for a 'uniformity of protocol' in handling protests across the country signals a potential overhaul of crowd control guidelines, forcing a critical re-evaluation of police methods in a democratic society.