India’s Supreme Court has refused to hear a plea against the police action on protesters demanding the resignation of the country’s education minister over a paper leak scandal.
The protests, which have been going on for several days, turned violent on Tuesday when police used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Chief Justice’s Response
Chief Justice Surya Kant told a lawyer who appeared before the court, ‘Please do not waste our time and do not waste your time. Your time is more valuable than ours.’
The lawyer had requested the court to take up the matter urgently, citing the police action against the protesters.
‘There are videos of police brutality. Students are protesting at Jantar Mantar. The police are being very harsh,’ the lawyer said.
Demands
The protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a fair investigation into the paper leak scandal.
They are also seeking the removal of the National Testing Agency, which conducts the exams, and a probe into the repeated paper leaks.
International Criticism
Human rights organization Amnesty International India has criticized the police action, saying it is an attempt to suppress peaceful protests.
‘The images and reports emerging from Jantar Mantar show that peaceful protests are being suppressed in India,’ said Aakar Patel, chairperson of Amnesty International India.
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