THE HINDU DATED 29th July 2026

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials- 269

THE HINDU DATED 29th July 2026

(for reading HINDU News items from 1 to 268 please visit –

web.prernaforias.com

1. Supreme Court orders release of minors detained during student protests

The Supreme Court directed the immediate release of all minors detained during recent student demonstrations and indicated that allegations of police excesses may require an independent investigation. The Court allowed States to continue inquiries into specific offences but warned that peaceful protesters should not be subjected to coercive action merely for participating in an agitation. Its reasoning draws a distinction between lawful investigation and collective punishment. Juvenile justice principles require that children be treated with special care, dignity and procedural safeguards, even when accused of misconduct. The Court also stressed the preservation of CCTV footage, body-camera recordings and other digital evidence so that responsibility can be fixed objectively. The judicial stand is that public order cannot justify disproportionate force, while genuine violence or property damage may still be investigated. The broader constitutional message is that democratic protest, police accountability and child protection must operate together within a transparent, evidence-based framework rather than through arbitrary detention or intimidation.

2. Police use of pellet guns and the need for protest-control guidelines