'Can't lathicharge people just because they are protesting': Supreme Court slams Delhi Police over NEET protest crackdown

In sharp remarks, the apex court observed that a police lathicharge cannot be justified merely because people are protesting.

The observations came while the court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking an independent probe into the police action during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led Parliament march on July 20.

As quoted by NDTV, the bench said: "The right to peaceful, lawful protest is absolutely guaranteed under the Constitution. So long as it is a peaceful agitation, merely because there is agitation, there can't be lathicharge."

The Supreme Court also agreed to hear a separate petition alleging that some police personnel were assaulted by sections of the protesters during the demonstration.

Delhi Police has maintained that more than 100 personnel were injured in the violence and clashes that erupted during the protest in the national capital.

Parliament March Triggers Violence

Dramatic scenes unfolded during the Parliament march on the streets of Delhi on Monday as police lathi-charged thousands of protesters, leaving several demonstrators injured.

Police also fired tear gas shells, barricaded roads and detained protesters as a massive confrontation erupted in one of the most significant anti-government protests in recent years.

According to reports, several police personnel were also injured during the clashes, which disrupted normal life across the city.