Supreme Court Directs High-Powered Committee to Prioritize Sexual Harassment Complaints in NEET Protests

The Supreme Court has taken a firm stance regarding the ongoing investigations into the protests against the medical entrance exam, NEET. During recent proceedings, the apex court directed the high-powered inquiry committee to give immediate and priority attention to allegations of sexual harassment and molestation involving women protesters.

Supreme Court Focuses on Women Protesters' Allegations

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana addressed the matter after senior advocate Shobha Gupta, representing a petitioner, urged the court to take suo motu cognizance of alleged sexual misconduct and police excesses during the July 20 demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

The legal counsel also requested the establishment of an accessible mechanism allowing victims to submit their grievances directly for thorough investigation. Responding to the plea, Chief Justice Surya Kant affirmed that the inquiry panel has been explicitly instructed to prioritize these sensitive complaints and submit an interim report without delay.

High-Powered Committee Headed by Former Judge

The probe is being overseen by a five-member High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) constituted by the Supreme Court on August 20. The panel is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy.

While independent writ petitions concerning the incident are already under judicial review, the apex court's directive ensures that grievances related to the safety and dignity of women participants receive immediate institutional redressal as the wider investigation into police conduct unfolds.