JANTAR MANTAR CLASHES UNDER FRESH SCRUTINY AS SUPREME COURT PANEL OPENS DOORS TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY
October 24, 2026
A high-powered committee appointed by the Supreme Court will hear affected individuals and collect evidence concerning alleged pellet-gun use, targeted violence and harassment of female protesters during the July demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The committee will hold a two-day sitting on October 29 and 30, providing an opportunity for victims, witnesses and other members of the public to submit complaints, representations and supporting evidence.
The High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy, will conduct proceedings from 11am at its office in Shiksha Sadan, 17 Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi. Individuals wishing to present their accounts in person can approach the committee between 11.30am and 3pm on both days, provided they carry valid identity documents.
The committee’s inquiry will examine allegations concerning the use of pellet guns against demonstrators, violence directed at particular individuals, and harassment of female protesters. It will also investigate allegations of excessive force and damage to property involving both protesters and security personnel. The inquiry is intended to examine the competing allegations and establish the facts surrounding the confrontations.
The Supreme Court constituted the five-member committee while hearing petitions alleging police excesses against student protesters during demonstrations led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The proceedings also encompass counter-allegations concerning violence against police personnel and damage caused during the protests.
Besides Justice R. Subhash Reddy, the panel comprises former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya director-general of police L. R. Bishnoi.
To enable wider participation, the committee has established an online portal, hpec.nic.in, through which affected individuals, witnesses and other stakeholders can submit statements, representations and supporting documents in prescribed formats. The facility is intended to make it easier for people to provide evidence without necessarily attending the committee’s office in person.
Protecting vulnerable witnesses is a central element of the process. The Supreme Court has directed the committee to ensure that such witnesses receive appropriate protection and that their identities remain confidential. It has also instructed the panel to maintain the strictest confidentiality concerning statements and evidence submitted by vulnerable individuals.
The inquiry follows violent clashes during a CJP-led march towards Parliament on July 20. Security personnel used tear-gas shells and baton charges to disperse demonstrators, while some students were admitted to hospitals with injuries reportedly associated with the possible use of pellet guns. The allegations surrounding the police response subsequently became the subject of legal proceedings before the Supreme Court.
The student-led agitation had begun at Jantar Mantar on June 20 and spread to several cities. It centred on demands arising from allegations of examination irregularities and other concerns relating to the education system. The movement was called off on July 25 following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The committee’s latest public hearing arrangements mark another stage in the effort to gather testimony from those affected by the violence. By accepting evidence concerning alleged police excesses as well as allegations against demonstrators, the panel will have to assess the different accounts and supporting material before reaching its findings.
The proceedings on October 29 and 30 are expected to provide an important opportunity for victims and witnesses to place their experiences on record. The ultimate task remains to establish what occurred during the clashes, determine whether unlawful conduct or excessive force took place, and identify any accountability issues that warrant further action.
