The Supreme Court has said that the right to peaceful protest is protected under the Constitution and that agitation alone cannot justify police excesses. The observation came while the court agreed to hear petitions alleging harsh police action during NEET-related student protests.
New Delhi: In an important remark, the Supreme Court said peaceful protest is a constitutional right and that police cannot use a lathi-charge simply because people are demonstrating. The bench also noted that every life matters, including the lives of police personnel.
The court made the observation while hearing petitions linked to alleged police excesses against students protesting the NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities. It also agreed to hear a separate plea involving claims that police personnel were attacked during the protests.
According to reports, the bench stressed the need for a proper protocol to handle demonstrations across the country. It said police must act against anti-social elements, but peaceful protesters cannot be treated as a threat just because there is agitation.
The matter has added a new layer to the ongoing NEET controversy, which has already seen student protests, demands for accountability and political pressure on the government. The court’s remarks are likely to strengthen the debate on crowd control, protest rights and police conduct.
The case will now move forward as the court examines the allegations in detail. For student groups, the hearing has become an important moment in the wider fight over exam fairness and the right to dissent.
