Amnesty International on Monday condemned the Delhi Police for using tear gas and batons against protesters from the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who were attempting to march towards the Parliament, raising concerns over the right to peaceful assembly.
The demonstrators had assembled at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in central Delhi, on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session. They are demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over paper leaks affecting the 2026 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG), which is India’s principal medical-school entrance examination.
Delhi Police had denied permission regarding the march to Parliament, citing prohibitory orders and security concerns due to the ongoing session. As the protestors pushed against police barricades, officers fired tear-gas shells and carried out baton charges. The police accused demonstrators of behaving in an “unruly and violent” manner, attacking police personnel and damaging public property after refusing directions to disperse.
The representatives maintained that the demonstration had been peaceful and accused the police of using disproportionate force. Furthermore, the movement continues with thousands of protesters having been returned to Jantar Mantar on Tuesday amidst continued paramilitary deployment.
The controversy has attracted public dissatisfaction because NEET is the single nationwide gateway to undergraduate medical education, meaning that disruptions affect the academic prospects of millions of candidates. The 2026 examination held on May 3 was cancelled and conducted again on June 21, reviving paper leak concerns during NEET-UG 2024. In 2024, the irregularities prompted an official inquiry and a limited re-examination of 1,563 candidates, thereby adding to longstanding questions about the reliability of the testing system.
The CJP began as a satirical online campaign in May before developing into a wider youth-led movement and has since drawn students, parents, independent activists and other individuals who are not affiliated with the group. The protest gained momentum after education reformer and climate activist, Sonam Wangchuk, began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on June 28, in solidarity with the students. The movement also seeks reforms to prevent future examination leaks and compensation for the families of students who died by suicide amid examination-related distress.
The confrontation on Monday engages constitutional protections for peaceful assembly that are guaranteed as fundamental rights by the Indian Constitution. Article 19(1)(b) of the Indian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to assemble peacefully, subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(3) in the interests of sovereignty and public order. Additionally, Article 21 of the Indian Constitution protects life and liberty and has been interpreted to encompass access to fair, non-arbitrary state processes.
Amnesty International raised concerns over the reports and images from the demonstration implied “serious human rights concerns.” It called on Delhi Police to exercise restraint and urged a prompt investigation into all allegations of unlawful conduct. The organization also stressed that the authorities’ responsibility is not only to maintain public order but also to facilitate the exercise of peaceful assembly.
Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which India is a party to, similarly protects peaceful assembly subject to legality, necessity and proportionality.