New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Tuesday advised law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint while dealing with protests, stressing that maintaining peace should be the immediate priority.
The observation came during the hearing of a petition seeking action against members of the “Karappan Poochi Janata Party”, alleging their involvement in violence during a protest in Delhi. The matter was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Jaymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana. The petition was filed by retired Air Force officer Manish Kumar Solanki.
Counsel for the petitioner, Rizwan Ahmed, argued that nearly two weeks after the protest began, accountability had not been fixed on those who organised the march. He also contended that those who allegedly pelted stones at officials should not escape legal action.
The bench said that in such situations, authorities should avoid aggressive responses and instead counsel and calm young participants. The judges underlined that police must ensure restraint, encourage peaceful marches, and handle any incident carefully so that the situation does not spiral into larger clashes.
