Supreme Court rejects plea seeking independent probe into CJP-led Jantar Mantar July protest

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking a direction to the Centre the Delhi government and police to ensure an independent and fair probe into the Cockroach Janta Partyled protest at Jantar Mantar in JulyThe Cockroach Janta Partys CJP protest against the NEET paper leak culminated in the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union education ministerThe top court also refused the prayer seeking a declaration that police like the judiciary exercise sovereign and independent functions in maintaining law and order and investigating crimes free from interference unless their actions are contrary to lawA bench comprising Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard the matter involving a plea concerning the investigation into FIRs registered in connection with the protests at Jantar MantarThe petition made the Centre the Commissioner of Police the Delhi government Shailendra Mani Tripathi one of the PIL petitioners in the CJP protest case and CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke as partiesAdvocate Mathews Nedumpara appearing for petitioner L Ramanathan questioned the maintainability of the PIL seeking judicial intervention in the absence of actual litigantsHe said that people approached the court as though it were their private propertyThe CJI responding to submissions defended the courts decision to invoke Article 142 of the Constitution to quash certain FIRsThere is no guarantee that we keep passing 100 per cent correct orders You say we should not have invoked Article 142 and quashed FIRsplease appreciate these are young studentsWe have to see their parents their future We dont want them to come to court You have not seen our order in the case of members of legislative assemblyParliament the bench saidCiting the example of Himachal Pradesh the CJI said some politicians sat on a dharna there and caused loss to public propertyBut when there was Covid people of this country were not ready to face this kind of crisis so people reacted in a way they could react The High Court declined to quash the FIRs but we allowed saying they are not hardened criminals he saidThe bench said that the plea was seeking review of the order quashing FIRs by invoking Article 142 of the ConstitutionThe petition sought a declaration that police enjoy an independent sphere of authority in maintaining law and order investigating crimes and bringing offenders to justice comparable to the judiciarys independence in administering justiceIt said that just as the executive cannot interfere with judicial functions police functions in their designated domain should not be interfered with unless police act contrary to law or with mala fide intent matters which may involve the adjudication of disputed questions of factIssue a writ order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing Respondent Nos 1 to 3 Centre Delhi government city police and to ensure that the investigation into the FIRs registered in connection with the Jantar Mantar Protests is conducted independently fairly and in accordance with law the plea saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever