Delhi Police personnel deployed during the Cockroach Janta Party-led (CJP) protest march to Parliament, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on July 20, 2026.
\| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) sought responses from the Centre and the Delhi Police on pleas alleging “excessive” use of force against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party-led march to Parliament on July 20.

A Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the authorities to preserve all relevant records in relation to the police action, including CCTV camera footage and any videography.

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The Bench issued a notice on the two PILs and gave four weeks to the authorities to file their counter affidavits.

"Let a counter affidavit be filed on behalf of the respondents within four weeks," the court ordered.

"In the meantime, we direct that the relevant record in relation to the incident as mentioned in the writ petitions, including the CCTV footage and videography, shall be preserved as per the SOP of the Delhi Police or the Union of India," it added.

The matter would be heard next on September 11.

Senior advocates N. Hariharan, Vikas Singh and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioners, contended that police used excessive force on protesters, including women and children.

Seeking an inquiry into the incident, the senior counsel asserted that the protesters were exercising their fundamental right to peacefully protest against irregularities in NEET.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju said the pleas were based on social media posts and were not maintainable.

Published - July 22, 2026 04:46 pm IST