The Supreme Court of India indicated on Tuesday that it may develop nationwide guidelines to regulate peaceful protests, affirming the constitutional right to demonstrate while addressing concerns over police conduct during recent student protests. This judicial activity coincided with Parliament’s consideration of a legislative amendment aimed at strengthening laws against examination fraud and paper leaks.

The court’s observations came amid ongoing scrutiny of police actions during the July 20 "Sansad Chalo" protest, where students demonstrated against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. Several petitions brought before the court alleged police excesses, including the use of baton charges and tear gas. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, emphasized the need for a balanced approach to protests, proposing a uniform framework that designates specific areas for peaceful assemblies while enabling authorities to act against violent behavior.

Chief Justice Kant underscored that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and that any police overreach cannot be justified solely by the occurrence of demonstrations. He also highlighted that violence against law enforcement personnel demands serious attention. The bench suggested that future guidelines should promote discipline among protesters and clarify the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies.

Senior advocates including Gopal Sankaranarayan, Colin Gonsalves, and Vikas Singh represented petitioners demanding action over the alleged use of force on students. Another petition addressed attacks on police officers and their families during the protests. The court has scheduled further hearings on these matters.

Meanwhile, the government introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. Presented by Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh, the bill proposes measures to expedite investigations and trials related to examination misconduct, while imposing stricter penalties. The legislation includes provisions for special fast-track courts to complete investigations within two months and trials within three months of charge sheet filing. It also authorizes the establishment of a Special Task Force at the central level and the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors in states.

The bill aims to enhance prison terms, increase financial penalties, and establish a time-bound appeal process before High Court division benches. However, parliamentary proceedings were frequently interrupted by Opposition members demanding accountability for police actions against students. Congress representatives criticized the government’s handling of the protests and questioned whether enhanced laws would be effective without proper enforcement of existing rules. Trinamool Congress parliamentarian Mahua Moitra called for an apology amid what she described as misinformation regarding the use of military-grade weapons during the protests.

In parallel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a six-member high-powered task force, chaired by Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani, to recommend reforms aimed at securing and enhancing transparency in India’s entrance examination system.

Addressing allegations related to police response, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh stated that a professional post-event assessment would be conducted regarding the actions of Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel during the protests. Singh emphasized that an official report would be issued upon completion of the review. The RAF, a specialized wing of the CRPF, is trained for riot control and crowd management during incidents of civil unrest.