The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a senior Delhi Police officer to appear in person and explain the alleged assault on women journalists during protests in the national capital. The directive follows accusations that reporters covering the demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar were manhandled and detained on Oct. 10 and 11. The officer must testify before the bench on Oct. 16.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, joined by Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, issued the summons after senior advocate Indira Jaising cited a plea filed by the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI). The court, acting on the NWMI’s request, sought to enforce its October 10 order that media persons covering protests must not be harassed, obstructed, or assaulted.
NWMI's writ petition demanded specific measures to protect journalists, arguing that the ongoing inquiry into police excesses failed to address access to protest sites, detention, and forced removal of reporters. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan also referred to a contempt petition accusing police of violating the Supreme Court’s directive. The court’s order on Oct. 10 aimed to curb a massive clampdown on protests against electoral revisions. The bench's insistence on a senior officer’s presence underscores the gravity of the allegations.
The hearing on Oct. 16 will determine whether the police officer can justify the alleged misconduct. If found culpable, the officer may face disciplinary action, and the court may impose stricter oversight on law‑enforcement conduct during public demonstrations.