New Delhi: Delhi High Court Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a court-monitored inquiry into allegations of a police lathi-charge on students during NEET-related protests in the capital, observing that its PIL jurisdiction could not be invoked merely on the basis of conflicting media reports.The petitioner, who described himself as a citizen and media professional, sought directions to Delhi Police to decide his representation seeking clarity on whether a lathi-charge had taken place. He argued that establishing the facts was necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, however, questioned the maintainability of the plea and asked the petitioner to show either a legal dispute or violation of a constitutional or statutory right.“Everything which will catch your imagination by reading newspaper becomes a PIL. High-sounding words like accountability, transparency are not to be used in vacuum… What is your petition? Delhi Police issued a statement. That statement is contradicted by the media and you are asking us to direct an inquiry,” the bench observed while dismissing the petition.The plea was filed in the backdrop of protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for accountability from govt, including the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.On July 20, thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar for a ‘Chalo Sansad’ march despite heavy security deployment. Clashes broke out after protesters attempted to march towards Parliament, leaving several protesters and police personnel injured.The petitioner had relied on what he described as contradictory accounts regarding the police response during the protest and sought judicial intervention to ascertain the facts. However, the court declined to entertain the plea, holding that such issues did not warrant invocation of its PIL jurisdiction.
