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On Wednesday, advocate Narendra Mishra sought an urgent hearing on the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest march at Jantar Mantar on July 20.

The lawyer presented videos of the assault on the students. However, the CJI declined his request, saying that the bench is not inclined to examine video footage at this stage. "Please don't waste our time and don't waste yours. Your time is more valuable than ours," the CJI told the lawyer.

Terming media reports "reckless", the CJI on Friday said that it was only a representation and not a petition. "In the last two days, a completely false statement was made that a matter was filed, and the media is absolutely free from all responsibility and falsely reporting that the Chief Justice refused to list the matter," he said.

"Till morning 10 am, not a single page has been filed. It was one representation...sent by Mishra or someone. How can I treat the representation as a writ petition? And people start recklessly reporting this," the CJI said.

The CJP protesters on Monday faced aggravated assault by the Delhi police when they marched towards the Parliament, demanding accountability on the NEET paper leak issue. The police used lathis and tear gas shells on students at the Jantar Mantar protest site and other adjoining areas in Lutyens Delhi. Several students suffered injuries, with one 23-year-old woman admitted to the ICU in critical condition at the RML hospital.

Supreme Court Bar Association Condemns Police Action

The Supreme Court Bar Association on Wednesday condemned the lathi charge by the Delhi police on students during CJP protests on Monday. The SCBA, in its statement, expressed solidarity with the injured, and sought an impartial inquiry into excessive use of force.

"The use of excessive and disproportionate force against peaceful students and members of the Bar is deeply disturbing and wholly unacceptable in a democratic society. The SCBA calls upon the concerned authorities to conduct an immediate, impartial and time-bound inquiry into the incident, identify those responsible for the excessive use of force, and take appropriate action in accordance with law," the statement reads.

CJP Protest Swells After Police Action

Despite the police action on Monday, the young protesters refused to clear the protest site and continued their sit-in on Wednesday, with more supporters gathering at the protest site overnight. The CJP, in a post on X, said that "thousands and thousands of protesters are at Jantar Mantar this morning" and reiterated its demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the agitation would continue until Pradhan resigns. "We will not leave this spot until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. July 20 was a milestone moment in India's political history, especially in post-Independence India. The youth won't stay quiet anymore," he said.

Several high-profile politicians, including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Supriya Sule, Akhilesh Yadav and others, met the protesters at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee also expressed anguish on the police action on CJP protestors and described the development as unacceptable.

(Image Credits: CJP/X)

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has registered at least 10 FIRs in different regions in connection with Monday's "Chalo Sansad" march. While four FIRs were registered at the Parliament Street police station, three were lodged at the Connaught Place police station. One FIR each has been registered at the Mandir Marg, Barakhamba Road, and Kartavya Path police stations.

The police noted that these FIRs pertain to different incidents and matters related to the maintenance of public order during the protest period. Investigations into all the registered cases are currently underway to determine further action.

(Image Credits: PTI)

CJI's Remarks Gave Birth To CJP

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) came into existence after CJI Surya Kant in May this year called the unemployed youth of the country cockroaches and parasites. CJI's remarks came during a hearing where a petitioner was seeking contempt proceedings against Delhi HC judges for delaying the implementation of SC guidelines on designation of Senior Advocates.

An irked CJI, as quoted by Live Law, said, "There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment and don't have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists, some of them become other activists, and they start attacking everyone."