‘Agencies must exercise restraint during protests’: SC on recent violence over paper leaks
New Delhi: Days after students and CJP protests ended over NEET paper leaks, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that law enforcement agencies must exercise restraint during protests. It added that youngsters must be pacified, even when some “misguided elements” indulge in stone-pelting. It also agreed to hear the petition seeking action against July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organisers for allegedly inciting violence.
The bench, Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana tagged the plea with a similar petition. Appearing for petitioner Maneesh Kumar Solanki, said as per PTI, “Fifteen days have passed… What about the accountability of the organisers? They are going from channel to channel giving provocative statements and refusing to douse the fire,”
He added, “One young man has died. If the government bends backwards in a matter concerning the national capital, will it not set a precedent in Rajasthan? There also the government will bend backwards to accommodate students. Tomorrow, if degree college students in Lucknow have some demand and start pelting stones at buses, will the government in Uttar Pradesh also bend backwards?”
Youngsters need advice and counselling: CJI Kant
Responding to him, CJI Kant said that even if some “misguided elements” indulge in stone-pelting, youngsters must be pacified. “They need advice and counselling. Any aggressive approach from the side of the mighty State may socially aggravate the situation and precipitate further violence. That needs to be avoided,” he added.
He added that the focus must be on ensuring peaceful protests even if in case of an incident. “What is important is to promote a peaceful march. If some incident takes place, the police also need to exercise a great deal of restraint to ensure that the situation does not go out of hand. Wherever such incidents take place, we need to deal with them very carefully,” he added.
“We need to tread carefully, so that these youngsters do not indulge in violence. The better course is to counsel them and pacify them. The most powerful tool is listening. Listen to them and understand why they are shouting,” the CJI noted further.