Supreme Court-Appointed Panel Sets Sittings to Examine Pellet Gun Use and Harassment During Jantar Mantar Protests

NEW DELHI: Stepping up its independent oversight into the turbulent July demonstrations, the Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) has announced a crucial two-day sitting. The panel will convene on October 29 and 30 to record evidence, hear affected individuals, and investigate serious allegations regarding the use of pellet guns and the harassment of female protesters.

The proceedings will take place at the committee’s office at Shiksha Sadan, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi.

Areas of Investigation

Led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy, the five-member panel is tasked with thoroughly examining the circumstances surrounding the clashes that erupted during the student-led marches. The core terms of reference for the upcoming hearings include:

• Use of Non-Lethal Weapons: Investigating claims and reviewing medical evidence concerning the deployment of pellet guns.
• Safety of Women: Scrutinizing specific allegations regarding the harassment and mistreatment of female protesters.
• Proportionality of Force: Assessing complaints of police excesses, baton charges, and tear gas deployment.
• Property Damage: Examining reports of extensive damage to public and private property during the unrest.

Participation and Witness Protection

To ensure a comprehensive and transparent fact-finding process, the committee has invited public participation:

• Walk-In Submissions: Affected citizens, witnesses, and victims can personally appear before the panel between 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM on the scheduled dates, provided they carry valid identity documentation.
• Digital Portal: Stakeholders can also utilize the designated online portal to securely upload statements, representations, and supporting documentary evidence.
• Confidentiality: In strict compliance with Supreme Court directives, the panel has instituted stringent safeguards to protect vulnerable witnesses, ensuring absolute confidentiality of their identities, statements, and submitted materials.

Eminent Panel Composition

Alongside Justice R. Subhash Reddy, the high-powered judicial and administrative committee comprises former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Rishi Kumar Shukla, and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L.R. Bishnoi.

Legal observers note that the panel’s active evidence-gathering phase marks a critical step toward judicial accountability and transparency in handling civil unrest and maintaining the rule of law.