Supreme Court to Hear Pleas Alleging Police Excesses in NEET Protests

The Supreme Court will hear two petitions on Monday that allege excessive force by police against students protesting the NEET question paper leaks. The protests, which began on Monday, have taken place at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and other locations across the country.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, presiding over a three-judge bench that also includes Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, told Senior Advocates Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Shyam Divan, “Let it be listed, we will entertain.” The court agreed to hear the matter after the lawyers stressed the urgency of the situation.

Sankaranarayanan informed the bench that the petitions address violence that has erupted nationwide. “There is urgency because this is happening on a daily basis,” he said. The senior counsel alleged that “police are using excessive force against children” and that the crackdown “is just going on unabated. Some controls are necessary. The court stands between us and the police.”

While protesters have accused the police of using batons and tear gas against them, law enforcement officials have justified their actions, citing attempts by protesters to breach security arrangements and attacks on personnel. The petitions are expected to examine the proportionality and necessity of the police response.

The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a key medical entrance exam in India. Allegations of question paper leaks have sparked widespread student anger, leading to protests demanding a thorough investigation and accountability. The court's intervention seeks to balance the right to peaceful protest with public order considerations.

The hearings come amid heightened scrutiny of police conduct during protests. The Supreme Court has previously laid down guidelines to prevent excessive force and ensure that law enforcement actions are proportionate. The outcome of Monday's hearing could set a precedent for handling similar unrest in the future.