BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, July 23: A group of Supreme Court lawyers on Thursday gathered inside the Supreme Court premises during the lunch recess and recited the Preamble to the Constitution in a symbolic show of solidarity with students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and police action against demonstrators.
The gathering was organised under the banner of the “Save Democracy, Save Constitution” campaign and was attended by senior advocates Indira Jaising, S. Muralidhar, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Dr. Vikas Singh, and several other members of the Bar.
Addressing reporters after the event, Indira Jaising said the lawyers had assembled to support students seeking justice and to reaffirm the constitutional right to peaceful protest.
READ: CBI Clears Alleged ‘Kingpin’ in 2024 NEET Paper Leak Case
“We are here to stand with the students. We are here to stand on the side of justice. This is not about us. It concerns the rights of students, and it is the duty of lawyers to demand justice for them,” she said.
Senior advocate S. Muralidhar said the legal fraternity stood with students protesting for their rights and hoped they would receive justice. Advocate Abhay Singh said members of the Bar condemned the alleged police excesses and would pursue all legal remedies to ensure accountability.
The demonstration comes days after clashes between protesters and Delhi Police during an attempted march to Parliament on July 20. Police used barricades, lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd after protesters tried to breach security arrangements.
THIS IS A MESSAGE TO THE DICTATOR GOVT 🇮🇳
Supreme Court lawyers stood at Jantar Mantar and read the Preamble in support of the protesters and against police action.
Let there be no confusion:
This country will be run by the Constitution, not by fear, force or political…— Siddharth (@SidKeVichaar) July 23, 2026
Student groups and several lawyers have alleged that excessive force was used against peaceful demonstrators, while Delhi Police has maintained that sections of the crowd turned violent, attacked police personnel and damaged public property, necessitating the use of force.
The legal fraternity has increasingly voiced concern over the police action. Earlier this week, hundreds of lawyers, including several senior advocates and former judges, issued a joint statement condemning the use of force against peaceful protesters and calling for an independent inquiry. The Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association have also sought a fair investigation into the incident and stressed the importance of protecting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
The students’ agitation, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and supported by several student organisations, entered its fourth week on Thursday. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, action against those responsible for the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, compensation for affected families, withdrawal of cases against protesters and comprehensive reforms in the examination system.
The lawyers’ reading of the Preamble came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre would establish fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials in examination paper leak cases, describing the move as part of the government’s commitment to protecting the future of students.
The CJP-led sit-in at Jantar Mantar continued on Thursday, with organisers reiterating that the protest would remain peaceful and continue until their key demands are addressed.
