Ex-Bureaucrats Slam Police Action on Students, Seek Judicial Probe

Calling the crackdown an assault on democratic rights, the retired officials urged the government to compensate injured students, withdraw cases against peaceful protesters, initiate dialogue on examination reforms and hold accountable those responsible for the police action

BY PC Bureau

New Delhi, July 24: A group of 93 retired civil servants has condemned the police action against students during the July 20 Sansad Chalo march in the national capital, calling it “brutal”, “illegal and disproportionate” and urging the government to order an independent judicial inquiry into the incident.

In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG)—a non-partisan forum of retired All India Services and Central Services officers—said it was “deeply shocked and greatly anguished” by the treatment of students protesting alleged examination irregularities and demanding education reforms.

The signatories alleged that Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel used pellet guns, electrical shock batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, resulting in serious injuries. They referred to reports that one student underwent surgery after pellets became lodged near his eye and neck, while a 15-year-old was among those hospitalised.

The retired officials also cited videos circulating on social media that purportedly showed police personnel, including some without visible name tags and others in plain clothes, beating protesters with lathis. The letter further alleged misconduct by security personnel, including an incident of alleged sexual harassment, the movement of detained protesters between police stations without access to lawyers, and the deployment of a truck allegedly carrying stones in a high-security zone.

Expressing concern over the broader policing of the protest, the CCG pointed to the closure of offices and commercial establishments in parts of central Delhi, restrictions on Metro services and public transport, internet shutdowns, and the reported deployment of facial recognition-equipped police vehicles. The group argued that the use of facial recognition technology against protesters could raise concerns relating to the right to privacy recognised by the Supreme Court in the Justice K.S. Puttaswamy judgment.

“This may well be the first time that such force has been used on such a scale against unarmed young protesters agitating for their legitimate right to education and employment,” the letter said. It compared the July 20 police action with earlier crackdowns on protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia, while alleging that excessive barricading created conditions that could have triggered a stampede.

The retired officers also expressed concern that the identities of those detained had not been made public and criticised what they described as the government’s inadequate response to students affected by repeated examination controversies. They also referred to reports that the Supreme Court declined to urgently hear a petition challenging the police action.

READ: Rahul Gandhi Presents Pellet-Injured Student

Emphasising that the right to peaceful protest is protected under Article 19 of the Constitution, the CCG said many of the demonstrators were teenagers and young aspirants protesting alleged paper leaks, examination irregularities and unemployment. “These young citizens deserve empathy, dialogue, protection and solutions—not pellets and lathis,” the letter stated, warning that excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators undermines public trust and constitutional governance.

The group urged the government to initiate an independent judicial inquiry into the July 20 police action; suspend and initiate departmental proceedings against officers responsible for any excessive use of force; provide medical treatment and compensation to injured protesters; release detainees and withdraw cases where there is no independent evidence of violence; begin structured dialogue with student representatives on examination reforms and accountability of the National Testing Agency (NTA); and review police crowd-control protocols, including training and psychological assessment of personnel.

“The government’s foremost responsibility is to protect and serve its citizens, particularly the youth who represent India’s future. Repression will only deepen alienation. Dialogue, transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of a mature democracy,” the letter concluded.

Among the 93 signatories are several former senior civil servants, diplomats and police officers, including former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Ribeiro, social activist and former IAS officer Aruna Roy, and former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

The July 20 Sansad Chalo march was organised as part of continuing nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak controversy. Delhi Police have consistently denied using pellet guns or excessive force during the protest, maintaining that only lawful crowd-control measures were employed. Petitions relating to the police action are currently before the Delhi High Court, which has directed the authorities to preserve CCTV footage and other video evidence.

Full List of 93 Signatories – Constitutional Conduct Group