Supreme Court Considers Guidelines for Police Conduct During Protests
· India · The Hindu, Al Jazeera
The Supreme Court of India observed that the constitutional right to peaceful protest must be protected and indicated it may frame uniform guidelines for police conduct during demonstrations. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that while peaceful agitation is a protected right, both protesters and law enforcement must maintain self-imposed discipline. The court's remarks followed multiple petitions concerning alleged police excesses during a July 20 Parliament march in New Delhi led by the Cockroach Janta Party. The Bench also noted reports of alleged aerial firing by police in Bihar’s Siwan during a bandh on July 25. The court is scheduled to hear these petitions on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Why it matters
The potential introduction of uniform guidelines could significantly alter how police forces across India manage large-scale demonstrations and mitigate the risk of violence or excessive force. This development directly impacts the civil liberties of protesters and the operational protocols of law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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