New Delhi, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), constituted to investigate allegations of police excesses during the July 20 student protests, to submit its fact-finding report within one month.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued the direction after the committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy, submitted a status report in a sealed cover.
The court clarified that the report, submitted on October 31, only outlined the progress of the inquiry and did not contain findings on the allegations. It directed the panel to examine all documents, video recordings and other material available to it, including evidence submitted by petitioners on behalf of affected persons, and seek responses from the authorities concerned.
The Bench said the committee should not limit its inquiry to formal complaints received directly from victims. It should also consider representations and evidence submitted through lawyers and other individuals.
The court was informed that only a few complaints had been received through the dedicated portal despite efforts to publicise the mechanism. No complaints had been received through email, post or physical delivery. Although notices were issued to protesters who sought to register grievances, only one complainant appeared before the committee on October 29 and submitted an affidavit. Some police personnel had also appeared before the panel.
The Supreme Court said the committee should proceed with the material already available rather than wait indefinitely for additional complaints.
“Whatever material has come, the committee need not wait indefinitely. Based on that, we would like the committee to give a fact-finding report,” the Bench said. It also directed the Centre to file a detailed affidavit.
The Bench recorded the resignation of retired Meghalaya Director General of Police Dr L.R. Bishnoi from the committee and scheduled the next hearing for December 2.
The Supreme Court had constituted the five-member HPEC on August 18 to investigate allegations of excessive police force and violence during the students’ march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament on July 20. Apart from Justice Subhash Reddy, the panel comprises former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur and former CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla.
The committee was tasked with examining allegations involving the use of pellet guns, electric batons, lathi charges and tear gas, targeted violence and harassment of women protesters, as well as excessive violence and destruction of property by both sides.
The Supreme Court had also directed police authorities, paramilitary forces and investigating agencies to preserve and provide CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-worn camera footage, wireless communication records and PCR call logs related to the protests. The HPEC subsequently launched a dedicated portal to receive complaints from affected persons, including police personnel, with safeguards for vulnerable witnesses and confidentiality of identities.
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