Allahabad High Court Refuses Judicial Inquiry Into 'Police Brutality' On SRMU Law Students; Clarifies 'Not Condoning Any Illegal Act'

The court, however, made it clear that its order should not be understood as condoning any illegal act by the authorities or the private university. For context, the students were protesting against the administration for running its law program in violation of norms and without proper renewal/approval, when they were allegedly beaten up.

A Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla was essentially dealing with a plea filed by Advocate Ashish Kumar Singh, who prayed for the constitution of a judicial commission headed by a retired judge to inquire into the alleged incident at the SRM University.

The plea also sought prosecution and disciplinary action against the police personnel, including male officers who allegedly manhandled female students.

Additionally, the PIL plea prayed for the prohibition of the functioning of the law colleges without Bar Council of India (BCI) recognition.

At the outset, the bench noted that the law students who were said to have been beaten had not themselves approached the Court. Regarding the reliefs seeking judicial inquiry and action against police personnel, the Bench observed that aggrieved persons can approach the Court or avail themselves of remedies permissible under law.

Regarding the plea to restrain the University from running law courses without BCI approval, the Court pointed out that the issue is already pending in another PIL before the HC and thus, it opined that it saw "no reason to entertain another Public Interest Litigation for the same cause".

Regarding the plea demanding medical treatment, compensation, and rehabilitation of the victim students, the Court recorded that the injured students had already been admitted to Lucknow-based King George's Medical University (KGMU), where they must be receiving appropriate medical treatment.

The Bench further noted that KGMU had not even been impleaded as a party, which would otherwise have facilitated directions.

The bench was also informed that a FIR was lodged by State authorities against the private University, which had been challenged and was pending before the Court in other proceedings.

Against this backdrop, the Court refused to entertain the PIL Plea. However, it clarified its order should not be understood as condoning any illegal act of any of the opposite parties or the private University.