Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday objected to what he described as “false reporting” by sections of the media over his recent remarks concerning a mention related to the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protests in Delhi, Bar & Bench reported.
According to Bar & Bench, the CJI clarified in open court that no petition had been filed before the Supreme Court regarding the alleged police excesses on student protesters and that only a representation had been made before him.
“Some person mentioned it. Media has falsely reported that I refused to list the matter. It was only a representation and people started recklessly reporting it. I checked with the registry and not a paper was filed,” the CJI said.
The clarification came after reports suggested that the CJI had, on July 22, declined to list a petition alleging police brutality against students protesting at Jantar Mantar.
Bar & Bench reported that during the July 22 proceedings, a lawyer had mentioned before the Chief Justice that police and other security forces were using excessive force against student protesters in the national capital and sought urgent listing of the matter, claiming there was video evidence of police brutality.
“Student protest is going at Jantar Mantar. Police is taking brutal actions…” the lawyer had submitted. Responding to the mention, the CJI said, “Please don’t waste our time and don’t waste yours. Your time is more valuable than ours.”
The lawyer then said he also wanted directions to ensure that the NEET examination was conducted fairly and sought the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in view of repeated examination paper leaks.
When the counsel again referred to videos allegedly showing police excesses, the CJI remarked that the Court was not interested in watching videos, Bar & Bench reported.
The Chief Justice on Friday maintained that the matter had never reached the stage of a formally filed petition and criticised the media for reporting that the Supreme Court.
