Delhi HC orders police reply and evidence preservation

The Delhi High Court has directed the central government and Delhi Police to respond to petitions alleging excessive police force against protesters during a march to Parliament on July 20. The court also ordered authorities to preserve all relevant evidence, including CCTV footage and electronic records.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued the notices on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, granting the respondents four weeks to file their replies. The next hearing is scheduled for September 11. The court directed that the preservation of records, including police videography and body camera footage, must comply with the applicable Standard Operating Procedures.

The public interest litigations stem from clashes that occurred during a "Sansad Chalo" march organized by the Cockroach Janta Party, a group that has been protesting at Jantar Mantar for nearly 20 days. The protests have centered on demands for accountability regarding alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and calls for the resignation of the Union Education Minister.

Senior advocates representing the petitioners argued that police used disproportionate and punitive...