The Supreme Court police excesses student protest Jantar Mantar matter will come up for hearing on Monday, July 27, 2026. The Court agreed to list two petitions alleging excessive police force against students during protests at Jantar Mantar and other parts of the country.
Supreme Court Agrees to List Petitions
A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant agreed to hear the petitions after the Supreme Court registry formally filed, verified, and assigned diary numbers to them.
The Bench also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the matter before the Bench on behalf of the petitioners. He said the petitions concerned alleged violence during student protests across the country.
“We have diary numbers and properly constituted petitions. The States are parties,” Sankaranarayanan told the Court.
He also highlighted the continuing nature of the protests and alleged police action against students.
“There is urgency because this is happening on a daily basis. Police is using excessive force against children. It is just going on unabated. Some controls are necessary. The Court stands between us and the police,” he submitted.
CJI Surya Kant then agreed to list the matter for Monday.
“Let it be listed, we will entertain… Monday,” the Chief Justice said.
Court Clarifies Difference Between Mentioning and Filing
The Court’s decision came after CJI Surya Kant clarified the difference between an oral mentioning and a formally filed petition.
Earlier media reports had stated that the Supreme Court refused to hear petitions related to student protests. The Chief Justice clarified that the Court had not refused to hear any formally filed petition at that stage.
On July 22, the petitioners had only made an oral representation. They had not yet filed a formal petition or paper book with the registry.
By July 24, the petitioners had completed the formal filing process. The registry had also generated diary numbers for the cases.
The newly filed petitions name the Union of India, various States, and law enforcement agencies as respondents.
Background of the Jantar Mantar Student Protests
The Supreme Court police excesses student protest Jantar Mantar case arises from widespread student protests following allegations of systemic irregularities and paper leaks in NEET-UG 2026.
The demonstrations took place under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protests intensified during a ‘Sansad Chalo’ rally on July 20.
The rally led to clashes between security personnel and student groups near Jantar Mantar.
The petitions seek judicial oversight of police action during the demonstrations. They allege the use of lathicharge, tear gas, and other coercive measures against protesters.
The petitioners have also sought safety guarantees for students participating in peaceful demonstrations.
Meanwhile, proceedings related to police conduct and the preservation of video evidence remain pending before the Delhi High Court.
The Supreme Court hearing could lead to a wider examination of the right to peaceful assembly and the limits of police action during public protests.
