Delhi High Court Issues Notice to Centre and Police Over July 20 CJP Force

The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Central government, Delhi Police, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) following two petitions alleging excessive use of police force against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters during their July 20 'Chalo Sansad' march.

High Court Directives & Next Hearing

• Notices Issued: Bench issued formal notices to the Centre, Delhi Police, and NHRC seeking detailed responses within four weeks.
• Footage Preservation: The court directed authorities to preserve all CCTV footage, videography, and official records related to police actions on July 20 around Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street.
• Next Hearing Date: The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on September 11, 2026.
• Arguments: Petitioners requested an independent inquiry into allegations of unprovoked lathicharge and tear gas usage. Counsel for the Centre maintained that allegations were largely based on unverified social media posts and reiterated that police took action to maintain prohibitory orders.

What We Can Verify

• Notice & Respondents: Delhi High Court issued notices to the Centre, Delhi Police, and NHRC regarding petitions filed over the July 20 police action. — The Indian Express
• CCTV Order: The court ordered preservation of CCTV footage and video records of the protest site and surrounding areas. — The Indian Express
• Timeline: Respondents were given four weeks to file replies, with the next hearing fixed for September 11, 2026. — The Indian Express

What Remains Unverified

• Scope of Judicial Inquiry: Whether the court will constitute an independent committee or leave investigation to existing agency channels remain subject to future court rulings [unverified].