Supreme Court Strictly Observes: 'Cannot Lathi-Charge Merely on the Grounds of Protest'

Amid mounting controversies over police crackdowns on student protests, the Supreme Court made strong observations, asserting that a lathi-charge cannot be justified merely on the ground that a protest is underway.

Key Highlights:
- Supreme Court Observations: A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant heard mentions regarding excessive use of force against demonstrators, including allegations that AK-47 rifles were deployed against protestors in Siwan, Bihar. The court emphasized the need for an independent inquiry into excessive force allegations.
- PIL Filed for Preserving Evidence: Petitioner Priya Mishra, through advocate Narendra Mishra, filed a PIL seeking a Writ of Mandamus to immediately preserve all electronic and digital evidence related to these incidents.
- Demands in Petition: The petition requests the preservation of CCTV footage, body-worn camera recordings, drone footage, mobile videos, police wireless logs, call records, control room data, and GPS trails to prevent tampering or destruction, alongside demands for registering FIRs where cognizable offenses by public servants are prima facie indicated.