650 Lawyers Condemn Police Action on Student Protest; SCBA Seeks Time-Bound Inquiry, Supreme Court Declines Urgent Hearing

More than 650 lawyers, including several senior advocates, have condemned the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party-led march to Parliament, describing it as an assault on constitutional values and democratic freedoms.

The statement comes amid growing legal scrutiny over the police response, while the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has called for an immediate, impartial and time-bound inquiry into the incident.

The developments coincide with proceedings before the Delhi High Court, where a public interest litigation is being heard alleging excessive use of force by the Delhi Police during the student protest.

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Lawyers Express Solidarity with Protesters

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the lawyers expressed solidarity with the students and urged the authorities to hold accountable those responsible for any excessive use of force. The signatories include prominent senior advocates such as Indira Jaising, Raju Ramachandran, Chander Uday Singh, Sanjay Hegde, Huzefa Ahmadi, Rebecca M. John, Gopal Subramanium, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Anand Grover, Sidharth Luthra, Jayant Bhushan, Shadan Farasat, Warisha Farasat, Navin R. Nath, Nandita Rao, Sanjay Parikh, Anjana Prakash, Sumita Hazarika, Sanjay Ghose, Amit Anand Tiwari, P.V. Dinesh, and Manali Singhal, among others.

The statement condemned what it described as the use of violence by the Delhi Police against peaceful youth protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20, 2026, and expressed solidarity with those who were “harmed, intimidated and traumatised” during the police action.

Emphasising the importance of democratic participation, the lawyers stated that Parliament is not an institution beyond the reach of citizens and that peaceful demonstrations remain a legitimate constitutional right.

SCBA Calls for Independent Probe

Separately, the Supreme Court Bar Association, headed by its President Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, adopted a resolution expressing concern over the injuries allegedly suffered by students and members of the legal fraternity during the protest.

The resolution, issued through SCBA Secretary Pragya Baghel, described the alleged use of excessive and disproportionate force against peaceful demonstrators as deeply disturbing and unacceptable in a democratic society.

The Bar Association urged the concerned authorities to conduct an immediate, impartial and time-bound inquiry, identify those responsible for any excessive use of force, and take appropriate legal action. It also sought adequate medical assistance for injured students and lawyers and called upon authorities to take preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Reaffirming its commitment to constitutional governance, the SCBA stated that it stands in solidarity with all those injured and remains dedicated to protecting constitutional rights, human dignity, and the rule of law.

Supreme Court Declines Urgent Hearing

Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition challenging the police action during the protest.

The matter was mentioned before a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana. Seeking an expedited listing, counsel for the petitioner informed the Court that video footage allegedly depicting police brutality was available and requested that the matter be listed the following day, citing the continuing presence of protesting students.

However, the Chief Justice declined to entertain the request at the mentioning stage and refused to consider the video material for the purpose of urgent listing. The Bench also declined the plea for immediate hearing.

Background of the Protest

The controversy stems from the student march held on July 20, 2026, during which thousands of students attempted to march towards Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak and other irregularities in the examination process.

According to reports, the march was stopped by the Delhi Police, who used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the protesters. The police action has since sparked widespread criticism from sections of the legal fraternity, civil society, and opposition leaders, while judicial proceedings concerning the incident continue before the Delhi High Court.