Supreme Court Refuses Separate Hearing on Jantar Mantar Panel Reconstitution Plea After Heated Arguments Over Proposed Names

The Supreme Court refused an immediate separate hearing on a plea to reconstitute the panel probing alleged police excesses during the Jantar Mantar protest. CJI Surya Kant observed that proposing specific judges for the committee was unacceptable, ordering the plea to be listed with the main case.

A high-stakes legal debate unfolded in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, during proceedings related to the Jantar Mantar protest. The court was considering a request to urgently list an application seeking the reconstitution of the High-Power Enquiry Committee (HPEC), which was previously set up by the top court to probe alleged police excesses during the demonstrations. The bench led by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant directed that the application would not receive an isolated urgent hearing and would instead be listed alongside the main matter concerning the Jantar Mantar protests.

Objections Raised Against Proposed Committee Names
The High-Power Enquiry Committee was originally established by the apex court to ensure an independent investigation into complaints of excessive police force during the protest at Jantar Mantar. During Tuesday's proceedings, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioner, brought up the reconstitution application for mentioning and requested the bench to list it for hearing in the following week. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed the request on behalf of the government, raising sharp objections to the nature and content of the application.

Court Clarifies Position on Judicial Appointments
Expanding on his arguments, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta characterized the filing as deeply mischievous, asserting that the application went beyond requesting a panel overhaul by recommending specific names to lead the enquiry body. Mehta argued that such submissions attempt to influence which judge should head the committee, remarking that the court should not be treated like a political platform. In response, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan clarified that his submission was restricted solely to seeking a formal listing date, emphasizing that any decision on the composition of the committee rested entirely with the court.

Bench Mandates Tagging with Main Petition
Chief Justice Surya Kant concurred with the concerns regarding the inclusion of specific names in the petition, observing that the bench does not view favorably any attempts by litigants to suggest names for judicial panels. Addressing the courtroom, the Chief Justice emphasized that the court evaluates every aspect, nuance, and concern of a case using its full capacity. The bench assured that while it remains open to receiving useful factual inputs from all parties to assist the enquiry, decisions regarding leadership belong strictly to the judiciary. Consequently, the Supreme Court ruled that the plea for reconstituting the HPEC will be taken up together with the main Jantar Mantar protest case rather than being treated as a standalone urgent matter.

What this means for you
• Across India: The Supreme Court's firm stand reinforces that external parties cannot dictate or influence the choice of judges leading judicial inquiry panels.
• Impact on Legal Proceedings: This ruling discourages the practice of suggesting specific names in petitions, ensuring procedural integrity in public interest litigation.

Questions & Answers

1. What did the Supreme Court decide regarding the Jantar Mantar protest committee plea?
The Supreme Court refused to grant an immediate separate hearing for the plea to reconstitute the committee and decided to list it alongside the main Jantar Mantar case.

2. Why did Solicitor General Tushar Mehta object to the application?
SG Tushar Mehta objected because the application suggested specific names for leading the High-Power Enquiry Committee, calling it a mischievous attempt to influence judicial appointments.

3. What was Chief Justice Surya Kant's stance on proposing names in petitions?
CJI Surya Kant stated that the court does not appreciate petitions mentioning specific names to head judicial inquiry committees.

4. Who was representing the petitioner during the hearing on August 25, 2026?
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan represented the petitioner during the hearing.

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