Don't waste our time: CJI Surya Kant refuses urgent hearing in plea over NEET, police excesses against CJP protestors

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined urgent hearing in a petition calling for reforms to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and alleging that police and other forces deployed in the national capital were committing excesses against students during ongoing protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

A lawyer appearing before a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana sought listing of the matter tomorrow, stating that there was video evidence of police brutality.

"Student protest is going at Jantar Mantar. Police is taking brutal actions..."

However, CJI Kant said,

"Please don't waste our time and don't waste yours. Your time is more valuable than ours."

The lawyer then said that he is seeking important prayers, including that NEET should be conducted fairly by the government and dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA), given the repeated paper leaks.

When the Court called out the next matter, the counsel insisted that he can present videos showing police excesses against protesting students. However, CJI Kant said,

"We are not interested in videos. We don't have time to watch."

Students from across the country and activists of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical collective, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar and others parts of Central Delhi demanding accountability for repeated examination paper leaks and also seeking resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. 

The protestors had planned to march to parliament on Monday but the Delhi Police intervened and prevented the same. The police used lathi charge and teargas to disperse the protestors. Several protestors were injured in the police action.

The CJP movement was born out of the Supreme Court proceedings held on May 15 during which CJI Surya Kant expressed concerns over unemployed youth drifting away toward social media and RTI activism.

CJI Kant, in his oral comments, said that such youngsters "like cockroaches" were becoming parasites in society. CJI Kant later claimed that he was referring to those with fake degrees who engage in such activities.