“We’d like some senior officer to remain present here and explain.” With that request from the Chief Justice of India, two petitions on the safety of journalists covering protests, one by the Network of Women in Media and one for contempt, will be heard together on Thursday.
New Delhi: Asking that a senior Delhi Police officer be present to explain the alleged assault and harassment of women journalists covering recent protests in Delhi, the Supreme Court has said the petitions will come up on Thursday. The allegations are those of the petitioners. They are untested, no response from the Delhi Police has been recorded, and the Court has expressed no view on them [Network of Women in Media, India writ petition and connected contempt petition].
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made the request on 13 October 2026, when the matters were mentioned. The available material does not name the other members of the Bench.
The request from the Bench
The police would have to explain the allegations, the Chief Justice said, and went on:
We’d like some senior officer to remain present here and explain.
The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) petition is to come up on Thursday along with the matter concerning the alleged police action. The officer has not been named and no deadline for appearance has been stated.
Who mentioned what
Senior Advocate Indira Jaising mentioned the NWMI petition, which seeks safety and dignity safeguards for journalists covering protests, particularly women journalists. Advance notice had been given to the Solicitor General, she told the Court. According to the petition, the existing inquiry into police excesses does not deal with journalists’ access to protest sites, their detention or forcible removal, or safeguards for reporting.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned a contempt petition by the Free Speech Collective. It alleges that police assaulted journalists, in violation of the Court’s order of 10 October that mediapersons covering protests must not be harassed. Senior Advocate Chander Uday Singh referred to a similar petition. No submissions on behalf of the Delhi Police or the Solicitor General were recorded.
Case Details: Network of Women in Media, India writ petition, with a contempt petition by the Free Speech Collective and a similar petition; case titles and numbers not available; mentioned on 13 October 2026; to be listed on Thursday, 15 October 2026.
Appearances: Senior Advocates Indira Jaising, Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Chander Uday Singh.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
Supreme Court seeks presence of a senior Delhi Police officer to explain alleged assault of women journalists during protest coverage, with the petitions to be heard on Thursday.