Senior Advocate Ashok Bhan on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s order on the recent nationwide student protests, saying it reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, constitutional values and the protection of civil liberties.
In a statement, Advocate Bhan said the Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India had recognised the need for a “fair, impartial and independent investigation” into allegations of injuries suffered by both students and police personnel during the protests.
He said the Court’s indication that it may constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of a former Supreme Court judge, along with directions to preserve CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-camera footage and police communication records, reflected the seriousness with which it viewed the matter and would help ensure a transparent investigation.
Senior advocate Bhan also welcomed the interim directions protecting the privacy of student protesters, preventing disclosure of their personal data, directing the release of students without criminal antecedents and restraining coercive action against peaceful protesters. He said these safeguards were rooted in the constitutional guarantees of dignity, liberty, privacy and freedom of expression. Calling the order “a powerful reminder” of the Supreme Court’s role as the guardian of fundamental rights, advocate Bhan said it would strengthen public faith in the judiciary and reaffirm that constitutional remedies remain available to every citizen.
