Supreme Court to hear plea for accountability in July 20 violence during NEET-UG protests
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to urgently list a petition seeking accountability of the organisers of protests related to the NEET-UG examination for the violence that erupted in the national capital on July 20. The petition has been filed by a retired officer of the Indian Air Force.
During an oral mentioning before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, the counsel representing the petitioner said the organisers of the protests were, instead of dousing the fire, fanning it further since July 20. The counsel also referred to the involvement of young students, saying they were using abusive language and posting videos of such behaviour on social media.
The counsel suggested that these young men and women should be directed to perform seven days of community service. At the same time, the counsel urged the court to instruct authorities against registering First Information Reports (FIRs) against the protesters.
The lawyer also pointed out that different State governments had issued separate, and often contradictory, notifications regarding the action to be taken against the protesters. He argued that the protests had a national impact and therefore the matter should be heard by the Supreme Court itself.
Responding to the submission, Chief Justice Kant said, “We will hear the petition tomorrow, or most probably, the day after.”
The July 20 violence is linked to widespread protests by students and aspirants over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, which have been a matter of national concern for several weeks. The protests escalated in various parts of the country, with the situation in Delhi turning violent on that day. The Supreme Court has been hearing multiple petitions related to the examination and the subsequent protests.
The retired Air Force officer's plea seeks to fix responsibility on the organisers of the protests for the violence that occurred. The petition raises questions about the manner in which protests are being conducted and the role of organisers in maintaining peaceful demonstrations.
The court's decision to take up the plea comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the handling of the NEET-UG issue by authorities. Several other cases related to the exam are also pending before the Supreme Court, including those concerning the alleged paper leak and demands for a re-test.
Legal observers note that the plea introduces a new dimension to the legal proceedings by focusing on the conduct of protest organisers rather than just the examination process itself. The court will examine whether there is sufficient cause to direct action against the organisers while also considering the counsel's suggestion for community service for young protesters.
The Supreme Court's stance on this petition is being watched closely, as it could set a precedent for how protests related to public examinations are regulated in the future. The hearing, scheduled within the next two days, is expected to clarify the scope of accountability and the measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents.
