Delhi High Court dismisses plea over alleged lathi-charge at NEET protest

The Delhi High Court has declined to order an inquiry into allegations of a police lathi-charge during a July 20 NEET protest march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament.

A bench led by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia dismissed the public-interest petition. It said conflicting media accounts and a Delhi Police statement did not, by themselves, establish a legal dispute or a violation of a constitutional or statutory right requiring the court’s intervention.

The petitioner, who identified himself as a citizen and media professional, had asked the court to direct Delhi Police to decide his representation on whether a lathi-charge had occurred. The court said terms such as transparency and accountability could not be invoked without a legal basis.

Thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar for the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march over alleged NEET paper leaks and demands for government accountability. The petition concerned allegations about the police response as protesters sought to move towards Parliament.

The court dismissed the PIL, finding no basis for intervention under its public-interest jurisdiction.