SC Names Heavyweight 5-Member Panel To Probe Student Protest Violence: Justice Subhash Reddy, Ex-CBI Chief On Board

Last Updated:August 20, 2026, 5:26 PM IST

Chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, the panel will examine claims of excessive force by law enforcement and violence directed against security personnel

The judicial intervention stems from widespread student demonstrations held at Jantar Mantar and across states like Bihar over alleged paper leaks and systemic flaws in competitive examinations such as NEET. Representational pic/Reuters

The Supreme Court of India has constituted a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of violence during student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and other regions across the country.

Chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, the panel will examine claims of excessive force by law enforcement as well as violence directed against security personnel.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana passed the order while hearing a batch of writ petitions concerning the nationwide demonstrations.

High-Powered Committee Composition

The court-appointed panel comprises senior retired judicial and law enforcement figures chosen to maintain institutional neutrality:

• Chairperson: Justice R Subhash Reddy (Former Supreme Court Judge)
• Judicial Members: Justice Ravi Shankar Jha (Former Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court) and Justice Shalinder Kaur (Former Delhi High Court Judge)
• Investigative & Security Experts: Rishi Kumar Shukla (Former CBI Director) and Dr LR Bishnoi (Retired Meghalaya Director General of Police)

Key Terms of Reference

The HPEC has been directed to deliver an interim report on its initial findings at the earliest. The panel’s fact-finding mandate covers:

• Police Action & Crowd Control: Investigating the proportionality of force used by police and paramilitary units, including the alleged deployment of pellet guns, electric batons, tear gas, and lathi charges.
• Safety of Female Protesters: Directly examining allegations of molestation, online harassment, and sexual assault targeting female demonstrators.
• Assaults on Security Personnel: Reviewing instances of violence committed against law enforcement officers and documenting injuries sustained by security forces during the clashes.
• Surveillance & Medical Relief: Assessing claims of illegal police surveillance, social media targeting of vulnerable individuals, and evaluating the provision of medical assistance and compensation for affected victims.

Background of the Student Agitation

The judicial intervention stems from widespread student demonstrations held at Jantar Mantar and across states like Bihar over alleged paper leaks and systemic flaws in competitive examinations such as NEET.

The protests—which included hunger strikes and marches towards Parliament—escalated into severe confrontations with security forces, prompting multiple petitions seeking judicial oversight, victim compensation, and accountability for security force excesses.

Key Questions Answered

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What powers will this new committee actually have?

The new five-member committee will conduct an independent investigation into allegations of violence during student demonstrations, examining claims of excessive force by law enforcement and violence against security personnel. It will also examine allegations including the excessive use of pellet guns, electric batons, lathi charges, and tear gas, alleged violence against women protesters, police surveillance, the proportionality of crowd-control measures, and the provision of medical…

Could this investigation lead to police reforms?

The investigation could lead to police reforms by influencing future guidelines on crowd control, police accountability, and the use of surveillance technology during public demonstrations. The Supreme Court has stressed the need for uniform police protocols for handling demonstrations across the country.

Will the committee address student exam concerns?

The committee is likely to investigate allegations of excessive police action, violence involving protesters and security personnel, and complaints of sexual harassment of women demonstrators during student protests over alleged examination paper leaks.

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Pathikrit Sen Gupta

Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More

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