The Supreme Court ruled that peaceful protest is a constitutional right, and the mere presence of a demonstration cannot be grounds for alleged abuse of power by the police against demonstrators.
The judicial bench, chaired by Chief Justice Surya Kant, issued these remarks while hearing petitions accusing the police of using excessive force against students during protests in July related to the alleged NEET exam leak.
Ashutosh Ranka, a representative of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), warned that the organization might resume its protests if the First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against students and other protesters are not withdrawn, and detainees are not immediately released.
In a post on X, Ranka tagged Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, stating that the Centre had broken its promise not to take punitive action against protesters. He reported that hundreds of students were arrested in Bihar and West Bengal, while others faced detention or harassment in Delhi and other parts of the country.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju approached the Congress party in the Rajya Sabha, requesting their participation in the discussion of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The government 'humbly requested' them to speak, but they refused to allow the sessions.
Rijiju stated: 'I had high hopes this morning that Hardeep ji would at least advise his Congress members. After all, for a long time they insisted on the need to discuss the NEET exam leak and the future of our students. We presented such an important bill.'
Parliament was adjourned amidst massive noise from the opposition.
Despite Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation ending his term as Union Education Minister, it did little to affect his standing within the NDA. During his first appearance in Parliament two days after stepping down due to the NEET exam leak scandal, the BJP member was met by fellow party members with shouts of 'Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad' and loud displays of support.
This reception drew immediate criticism from the opposition, as the Congress accused the BJP of celebrating a leader who resigned following a major examination scandal.
According to a New York Times report, the Pentagon has changed how it reports casualties in the war with Iran, introducing a new category for deaths and injuries registered since July 7, which complicates the calculation of total human losses in the conflict.
Under the revised reporting system, the Department of Defense's military casualty analysis system reinstated the count of four American soldiers killed last week after they were temporarily removed from the website. However, these casualties are now listed in a separate section titled 'casualties overseas operations starting July 7, 2026', requiring anyone seeking the overall casualty figure to combine data from two different webpages.
The Supreme Court of India ruled on Monday that the right to peaceful demonstrations is guaranteed by the Constitution, and the mere existence of unrest cannot serve as a basis for alleged abuses by the police against protesters.
The judicial bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, reviewed petitions concerning alleged police excesses against students during July protests, which were triggered by the leak of NEET examination materials.
The bench also emphasized the need to develop a unified national regulation to ensure peaceful protests while allowing authorities to take action against anti-social elements. The Chief Justice noted: 'The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Constitution. The right to peaceful protest is absolutely guaranteed. This cannot be denied. Just because there is unrest, it cannot justify police overreach.'
Highlighting the importance of protecting both protesters and law enforcement officers, the court stated: 'Unrest does not mean flying sticks. Unrest does not mean violence.'
The court ruled that all-India guidelines must be developed on this matter, and neither petitioners nor governments should adopt a confrontational approach. Nevertheless, the bench expressed concern over reports of attacks on police officers during the protests.
When an advocate mentioned injuries sustained by police officers and alleged mob attacks on their families, Justice Joymalya Bagchi stated: 'The injury to police officers causes equal concern. We can call upon the State to explain why adequate assurances were not provided...'
The Chief Justice added that there must be a clear protocol regulating peaceful protests across the country, including designating specific places for demonstrations. He explained: 'There must be a protocol when someone wants to protest peacefully. There must be proper space for that. In that regard, there are no obstacles. But if there is any anti-social element, that can be dealt with.'
The court concluded that this issue requires an all-India approach and pointed to the possibility of developing mandatory guidelines to ensure uniformity. The Chief Justice remarked: 'This is a matter for all of India... this standardization of the protocol is also... Self-discipline is an integral part of the entire process.'
Further hearing of the case has been scheduled for Tuesday.
Two legal bodies of the Supreme Court of India condemned the alleged use of violence by the police against students and lawyers during a march organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on July 20 to the Parliament. These organizations demanded an impartial investigation into the 'excessive use of force' and called for the prosecution of those responsible.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), led by President and Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, stated in its resolution that police actions resulted in injuries to several students and members of the legal community, including SCBA members. SCBA Secretary Pragya Baghel presented the resolution, which characterized the use of force against protesters as 'deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable in a democratic society.'
This legal body strongly urged the relevant authorities to immediately conduct an objective and time-bound investigation into the incident, identify those responsible for the alleged excessive use of force, and take appropriate legal action. Furthermore, a request was made to ensure proper medical care and assistance for all injured students and members of the legal community, as well as to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The SCBA resolution added that 'the association stands in solidarity with all victims and affirms its commitment to protecting constitutional rights, human dignity, and the rule of law.'
In a separate statement, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) expressed serious concern over 'reports and visual materials showing the Delhi Police using force against students and young protesters.' These individuals gathered peacefully to express concerns about the fairness of state examinations and the future of the country's youth.
SCAORA emphasized in its resolution that peaceful protest is not an act of disobedience but an exercise of fundamental freedoms guaranteed by Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution. The association noted that while the state has the right to maintain public order, any restrictions on these freedoms must comply with the constitutional requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
The association demanded an independent and impartial inquiry into the allegations of excessive use of force, immediate medical aid for the injured, and a more restrained approach based on dialogue when interacting with peaceful protesters. The conclusion of the SCAORA resolution stated: 'The strength of our Republic lies not in suppressing dissent, but in protecting it within the framework of the Constitution. The true measure of constitutional governance is not how the state reacts to consent, but how it reacts to peaceful disagreement.'
Earlier, on Monday, thousands of students demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to the NEET exam leak and alleged irregularities in the examination system attempted to march to the Parliament, but they were blocked by police officers who used tear gas and batons.
The IIT Rurikov Institute issued a clarification regarding a supposed email sent to students aimed at preventing protests, stating that many media reports on the matter are erroneous. According to the institute's information, the recommendation sent to students and staff concerning social media and public activity was not a new directive but part of a regular annual internal consultation.
IIT Rurikov rejected the claim that this recommendation constituted a restriction on students' right to express opinions or participate in protests. The institute emphasized that the main goal of such guidelines is to maintain safety on campus, protect the academic environment from potential violations, and ensure the uninterrupted operation of the institution.
The institution expected all students and personnel to use social media responsibly and avoid any actions that could negatively affect the order or safety of the institute. Previously, some student organizations and social media posts claimed that the institute had banned participation in online and offline protests.
Following the emergence of these reports, IIT Rurikov officially provided clarifications, noting that the recommendation was presented out of context. The institute reaffirmed its respect for students' freedom of expression but insisted that all actions must be conducted in compliance with legislation, institute rules, and campus safety measures. Thus, the recommendation is intended to promote responsible behavior and preserve the academic atmosphere, not to restrict legal rights.
