Supreme Court panel opens portal for July 2026 protest violence evidence

The Supreme Court-appointed HPEC has opened a portal for evidence on the July 2026 protest violence. The facility protects vulnerable witnesses while enabling confidential submissions from affected people and stakeholders.

In Short

• Submissions are accepted online and in person at the Delhi office
• Vulnerable witnesses will receive identity protection and strict confidentiality safeguards
• Five-member panel includes former judges, police leaders and a CBI director

A Supreme Court-appointed committee investigating violence during Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests in July 2026 has launched an online portal to receive complaints, statements and evidence from affected people and witnesses, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) has assured protection and confidentiality for vulnerable witnesses. Submissions can be made through its portal, https://hpec.nic.in/, using the prescribed formats.

The committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, has invited affected people, witnesses and other stakeholders to submit complaints, representations, statements, documents and other relevant evidence. According to a notice cited by PTI, representations can also be submitted in person at the HPEC office at Shiksha Sadan, 17, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi.

The Supreme Court constituted the five-member committee to investigate all aspects of the violence at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and other places outside the national capital during July 2026, as well as broader issues linked to the incidents.

Apart from Justice Reddy, the committee comprises former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya director general of police L R Bishnoi.

The committee will examine issues including the use of pellet guns, targeted violence, harassment of female protesters, excessive violence and destruction of property allegedly caused by either side.

“The Hon'ble Supreme Court has granted liberty to the parties to the writ petitions to approach the HPEC and submit such relevant material, documentary evidence and suggestions as they may deem fit, in such manner as may be decided by the HPEC through its Chairperson,” the public notice said.

The online submission facility was developed in line with the Supreme Court's directions to protect vulnerable witnesses and help affected people and other stakeholders submit material. The court directed the committee to protect such witnesses and keep their identities confidential.

“The Hon'ble Court has also directed that utmost confidentiality shall be maintained in respect of statements made and evidence submitted by such vulnerable witnesses before the HPEC,” the notice said, according to PTI.

The Supreme Court ordered the committee's formation while hearing a batch of petitions alleging police excesses against student protesters during the CJP-led agitation. The petitions also included allegations of violence against police personnel.

The CJP-led march to Parliament on July 20 in Delhi saw clashes between protesters and security personnel. Security personnel used lathis and tear gas shells to disperse crowds attempting to move towards Parliament.

The student-led protests, which spread to several cities, centred on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The agitation began at Jantar Mantar on June 20 and was called off on July 25 after Pradhan resigned and the government accepted the CJP's other demands.

The committee will now receive complaints and evidence online or in person as it investigates the July violence, with the Supreme Court directing it to protect vulnerable witnesses and keep their identities and submissions confidential.

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