NEET Protest Row: Right to Peaceful Protest Is Guaranteed, Says SC; Hears Pleas Tuesday

NEW DELHI, Jul 27: The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally guaranteed and agreed to hear on Tuesday a batch of petitions alleging police excesses against students protesting the NEET paper leak and other examination irregularities across the country. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana also agreed to hear a separate plea filed by family members of police personnel who were allegedly attacked during the protests. The matter will be taken up along with the other pending petitions. “The right to peaceful protest is absolutely guaranteed. That cannot be denied. Merely because there is agitation cannot justify police excesses,” the Chief Justice observed during the hearing. At the same time, the Bench emphasised that the safety of all individuals, including police personnel, must be protected. “Life of every individual, irrespective of who they are, is important,” the Bench remarked after a lawyer submitted that several police personnel were assaulted during the demonstrations. The court also underlined the need for a uniform protocol to regulate public protests across the country, suggesting that designated spaces should be provided without imposing unnecessary restrictions while ensuring that anti-social elements are effectively dealt with. “There should be a protocol in place. There should be proper space and no restriction. But if there are some anti-social elements, that can be taken care of. This is not a question of Delhi only. Uniformity of protocol is needed,” the Bench observed. The petitions stem from nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination-related irregularities, during which students claimed they were subjected to excessive police action.