New Delhi, 20 August (H.S.): The Supreme Court has constituted a five-member high-powered committee to examine matters related to the protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant constituted the panel to investigate various aspects of the protests.

The committee will be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy. Its other members are former judge Justice Ravishankar Jha, former judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla and former Director General of Police Dr L.R. Bishnoi.

On August 18, the Supreme Court had said that it would constitute a high-powered committee to examine cases arising from the CJP's protests. The committee will look into allegations of police excesses as well as incidents involving violence against police personnel.

The court had said the committee would be tasked with establishing the facts and would submit reports from time to time, enabling the court to issue appropriate directions based on its findings.

The court had also assured that all necessary infrastructure would be made available to the committee. It expressed confidence that the panel would promptly hear the grievances of any victim who approached it and provide them an opportunity to present their case.

The court said it would consider the committee's recommendations as they were submitted and take further action wherever necessary. The panel will also examine allegations of sexual harassment and online harassment of women protesters, as well as claims of vulnerable individuals being targeted through social media.

A petition had earlier been filed before the Supreme Court seeking directions to impose seven days of community service on young people accused of using abusive language under the guise of participating in student protests. The plea also sought action against the organisers of the demonstrations.

Last month, the Cockroach Janta Party had staged a protest at Jantar Mantar over an alleged paper leak. Complaints of police excesses were also reported during a march by students towards Parliament in connection with the protests.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar