Chief Justice of India Surya Kant refused to urgently list a petition challenging police action against student protesters on Wednesday [1].

The ruling signals a high judicial threshold for emergency interventions in police conduct cases, particularly when evidence relies on digital media. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi [2].

The petition was filed by a lawyer on behalf of student protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) [1]. The plea alleged that police used excessive force and committed atrocities against the students during their demonstrations [3].

During the proceedings, the lawyer presenting the plea said, "There are videos showing police atrocities" [3]. The legal team sought the court's immediate intervention to address the alleged brutality and protect the protesters [1].

Chief Justice Surya Kant rejected the request for an urgent hearing. "We are not interested in videos; we don't have time to watch," the Chief Justice said [1].

The court further cautioned the legal team against seeking unnecessary urgency. "Don't waste our time," the Chief Justice said [1].

The refusal to review the video evidence means the petition will not be fast-tracked. The student protesters at Jantar Mantar continue to seek relief from the police actions they describe as brutal [2].

“"We are not interested in videos; we don't have time to watch."”

This interaction highlights a tension between the use of citizen-captured video evidence and the procedural preferences of India's highest court. By refusing to review video footage during an urgent listing request, the Supreme Court reinforces a strict adherence to traditional legal filings over real-time digital evidence, potentially delaying immediate judicial relief for protesters alleging human rights violations.