NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said that it has asked the High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), which had been set up to examine allegations of police violence during the NEET paper leak stir, to prioritise complaints of sexual assault faced by women protesters.
A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the direction after senior advocate Shobha Gupta urged the court to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged sexual assault and molestation of women protesters during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20.
Gupta asked the court to create mechanism for alleged victims to directly send complaints. CJI Surya Kant — although he did not take suo motu cognisance— however, said, “the committee has been requested to examine it on a priority basis, and immediately submit an interim report.” Justice Bagchi said an independent writ petition was filed on the same cause, and the HPEC has been asked to examine the issue.