SC calls 'lathicharge merely due to agitation' unjustified; orders independent probe

The Supreme Court of India orally observed on Monday that a lathi-charge cannot be launched merely because an agitation is taking place. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made this observation while hearing a fresh batch of petitions addressing alleged police excesses during the recent wave of student demonstrations across various parts of the country. Among the petitioners is a group of students claiming to have been beaten by law enforcement during the protests.

During the proceedings, the bench emphasized that allegations regarding the indiscriminate use of force by police authorities require independent examination. The court noted the seriousness of the claims submitted in the filings, which challenge the proportionality and lawfulness of the security measures deployed against the demonstrating students.

The petitions highlighted specific instances of alleged severe force, including a plea claiming that AK-47 rifles were brandished or used against protesters in Bihar's Siwan district. The apex court's observations come amid an ongoing national debate over police handling of public demonstrations and student-led agitations.