Delhi Police Files Supreme Court Affidavit on NEET-UG Protests and Deployment Numbers
The Delhi Police submitted a 42-page affidavit to the Supreme Court presenting an extensive statistical record of security measures and incidents linked to recent NEET-UG student demonstrations, while leaving inquiries into alleged police misconduct to a proposed court-appointed body.
What Happened
Submitted late on August 17, 2026, the affidavit outlines the scale of police deployments and incidents surrounding demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and the subsequent ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on July 20, 2026. The document itemises crowd management resources and criminal complaints from the protest period, but it does not address internal accountability for personnel accused of mistreating women protestors.
Addressing the matter on August 18, 2026, a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant assured counsel for the petitioners, senior advocates Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Shadan Farasat, that a proposed high-powered committee would review allegations concerning plainclothes police personnel accused of sexually molesting women demonstrators. The Chief Justice confirmed that formal legal steps would depend on findings submitted by the panel.
Key Highlights
- Misconduct Allegations Deferred: The Delhi Police noted that it was advised not to address allegations against its officials in the filing, maintaining instead that force was applied in a graded sequence and suggesting the court form a high-powered committee to inspect these claims.
- Deployment and Monitoring Figures: Authorities reported deploying more than 3,600 barricades and over 4,600 women police personnel across the demonstrations. Facial recognition systems also recorded 2,873 faces matching records in existing police databases.
- Injuries Sustained: The affidavit documented that more than 240 police personnel, including female officers, suffered injuries during violent clashes on July 20. Around 218 protestors were also injured and received medical treatment.
- Criminal Complaints Reported: Police highlighted the lodging of 123 lost reports, 66 thefts, and the theft of seven motor vehicles between July 20 and July 26, 2026, stating these incidents indicated criminal infiltration among demonstrators.
- Chronology of the Demonstration: The movement originated on June 6, 2026. Saurav Das of the Cockroach Janta Party subsequently received a one-time permission on June 17 for a peaceful gathering of 500 to 600 people on June 20. However, demonstrators remained past the designated period as turnout swelled with incoming students, political workers, and activists.
- The Parliament March: Police stated that no clearance was requested or granted for the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on July 20, which coincided with the opening of the monsoon session of Parliament. Authorities recorded that an estimated 30,000 demonstrators faced approximately 5,000 uniformed officers, with protestors attempting to breach barricades to reach sensitive government buildings.
Why This Matters
The filing clarifies the legal and operational stance taken by law enforcement following widespread unrest in central Delhi. By submitting operational statistics while refraining from addressing allegations of sexual harassment and excessive force directly in its response, the police administration has left the fact-finding task regarding officer conduct to the oversight of a judicial committee.
What to Watch Next
The primary upcoming development is the formal constitution of the high-powered committee by the Supreme Court. Further legal proceedings and administrative steps against police personnel will be determined once the panel delivers its report on the allegations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Delhi Police address allegations of misconduct by officers?
The affidavit did not address individual allegations against police officials, stating that the deponent was advised not to do so. The police maintained that force was applied in a graded manner and suggested that the Supreme Court establish a committee to examine the matter.
What did the Supreme Court state regarding allegations against plainclothes personnel?
Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that the proposed high-powered committee would investigate claims that plainclothes personnel sexually molested women protestors, with legal action to follow based on the committee’s findings.
What casualties were recorded from the July 20 protest?
According to the police affidavit, more than 240 police personnel, including women officers, and approximately 218 protestors sustained injuries during the unrest on July 20, 2026.
Source: The Hindu