Supreme Court Upholds Right to Peaceful Protest, Calls for Uniform Police Guidelines

The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed that the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful and lawful protest, stating that police cannot resort to force simply because a demonstration is taking place. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana emphasised that any excessive police action must be independently examined.

The CJI remarked that while there should be proper space for protests without restrictions, protocols must be in place to address anti-social elements if they emerge. He stressed the need for uniformity of such guidelines across the country, noting the issue extends beyond Delhi.

The bench also heard from families of injured police officers and said injuries suffered by both police personnel and protesters deserve equal concern. It allowed applications from police families to be listed alongside petitions alleging police excesses during the protest.