Delhi High Court Agrees to Hear PIL Alleging Police Excesses During CJP’s ‘Parliament March’
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday agreed to urgently hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging excessive use of force by the Delhi Police during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led “Parliament March” held earlier this week. The matter was mentioned before the Court for immediate listing in view of the seriousness of the allegations concerning the treatment of student protesters and the alleged violation of their fundamental rights.
The PIL alleges that the Delhi Police resorted to disproportionate force while preventing thousands of protesters from marching towards Parliament. According to the petition, police personnel used lathi charges, physical assault and mass detentions against demonstrators, including students, despite the protest allegedly remaining largely peaceful. The petitioner has sought an independent judicial inquiry into the police action and compensation for those allegedly injured during the crackdown.
The petition further seeks directions for preservation of CCTV footage, body-camera recordings and other electronic evidence relating to the incident. It also requests the Court to ensure that no coercive action is taken against peaceful protesters solely for exercising their constitutional right to assemble and express dissent under Article 19 of the Constitution.
The hearing comes amid heightened political and legal scrutiny over the events surrounding the Parliament March. Opposition parties and several civil society groups have criticised the police response, alleging that students were subjected to unnecessary force. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has maintained that the gathering was unauthorised and that necessary action was taken to maintain law and order after protesters attempted to breach security arrangements near Parliament. The police have also denied allegations that pellet guns were used during the operation, calling such claims “false and misleading.”
The developments coincide with multiple legal challenges arising from the same incident. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court declined to grant urgent listing of a separate plea seeking immediate intervention against the alleged police action, observing that the matter did not warrant extraordinary urgency at the mentioning stage. The Delhi High Court’s decision to hear the PIL, however, ensures that the allegations of police excesses will now undergo judicial examination on their merits.
Security across the national capital remains exceptionally tight as the protests continue. Additional CRPF companies have been deployed, barricading has been strengthened around central Delhi, and several Delhi Metro stations were temporarily closed due to security concerns. The outcome of the High Court proceedings is expected to influence the legal assessment of police powers in handling large-scale public demonstrations and the constitutional balance between maintaining public order and protecting the right to peaceful protest.
