Supreme Court directs Delhi Police officer to appear over journalists’ allegations

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed a senior Delhi Police officer to appear in person on Thursday to explain allegations that women journalists were assaulted and detained while covering recent protests in the capital.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant issued the directive after senior advocate Indira Jaising mentioned a petition filed by the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI). The petition seeks judicial safeguards for journalists, particularly women, covering protests and public events, and argues that existing inquiries into police conduct fail to address press access, arbitrary detentions and forcible removals.

Jaising informed the bench that advance notice and a copy of the petition had been served to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The court agreed to take up the matter on Thursday alongside pending petitions concerning alleged police excesses and restrictions imposed ahead of the demonstrations.

The judicial scrutiny follows protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. During weekend demonstrations, police detained at least 12 journalists, including reporters from Hindustan, The Indian Express and The Hindu, despite individuals identifying themselves as members of the press and displaying credentials.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan also mentioned a contempt petition filed by the Freedom Speech Collective, alleging that police assaulted journalists in violation of an October 10 Supreme Court order dictating that mediapersons must not be harassed. Senior advocate Chander Uday Singh mentioned a similar petition before the bench.

The interventions compound ongoing proceedings regarding mass detentions, public movement restrictions and curbs on transport services surrounding the protests. On Sunday, a special bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana ordered that peaceful, unarmed protesters may only be detained in accordance with established legal procedures, while directing that public transport and internet services operate normally.

On Monday, CJI Kant cautioned counsel against drawing the Supreme Court into political disputes surrounding the demonstrations, while emphasising that democratic activities must not impede the functioning of the court or the movement of litigants and legal staff.