The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over alleged harassment and intimidation of a minor girl who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests, observing that such allegations could not be treated lightly.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana was hearing petitions relating to the protests that were held in Delhi and several other parts of the country over the alleged NEET question-paper leak.
During the hearing, a lawyer brought before the court allegations that the minor protester had been threatened and harassed. The counsel also referred to a video in which an individual was allegedly seen admitting to the intimidation.
The court took note of the seriousness of the allegations and indicated that appropriate protection should be provided to the girl and her family.
The concern comes against the backdrop of a series of incidents involving CJP protesters since the demonstrations began. The protests, which included students and young activists, had earlier triggered allegations of excessive use of force by police as well as claims of intimidation and online abuse.
The Supreme Court had previously intervened in cases arising from the protests, directing authorities not to take coercive action against students involved in the demonstrations. On September 1, the court also ordered the closure of cases registered against students in connection with the protests, while making exceptions for those facing serious criminal allegations.
The latest proceedings also follow allegations of rape threats, online abuse and intimidation directed at a minor CJP activist. Delhi Police had registered a separate case after a complaint alleging threats against the teenager.
In another recent development, the police detained activist Swatantra Bhardwaj following allegations that he had assaulted the father of the minor protester during an earlier CJP demonstration. A separate POCSO case was also registered following allegations of online threats and harassment.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised that the right to peaceful protest must be protected while also making clear that violence cannot be justified. In an earlier hearing, the Chief Justice said law-enforcement agencies needed to exercise restraint while dealing with young protesters and stressed that the preferred approach should be to counsel and pacify them rather than escalate confrontations.
