NEET protest: Merely because there is agitation, there cannot be lathicharge; says SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday said it is duty bound to protect the constitutional guarantees for right to peaceful protest but said it will examine PILs alleging both excesses by police on student protesters and violent attacks on policemen and journalists before laying down pan-India guidelines for prevention of such incidents in future.

"Right to protest cannot be denied so long as it remains peaceful. Merely because there is an agitation, there cannot be lathicharge . And just because there is an agitation, the protesters cannot resort to violence," said the CJI while hearing the matter with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.