The High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) set up by the Supreme Court has launched a complaint portal for people affected by alleged violence during July protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and other locations, allowing protesters, police personnel and witnesses to submit complaints and supporting evidence, including confidentially.
The portal, available at hpec.nic.in, has been introduced after the Supreme Court formed the HPEC to examine allegations linked to the protests. According to a statement issued by the Home Ministry, complaints concerning the use of pellet guns, targeted violence, harassment of women protesters, excessive violence by both sides and damage to property will receive priority.
The committee will examine the issues identified in paragraphs 12 and 13 of the Supreme Court’s August 18, 2026 order and paragraph 5(i) of its September 10, 2026 order, the statement said. The matters referred to in those orders include the use of pellet guns and electric batons, violence against protesters and police personnel, compensation and allegations that particular individuals were selectively targeted.
The complaint system allows four types of submissions. An affected person, including a police officer, can submit a complaint directly. A witness or complainant can also provide information while keeping their identity confidential. The third format is for confidential information unrelated to a direct complaint, while the fourth allows people to submit suggestions to the HPEC.
The portal includes separate questions for different categories of complaints and provides an option to attach documents and other evidence. Users can upload photographs and videos relating to injuries, incidents or medical reports. The form also asks whether the affected person experienced sexual harassment during the protests.
The Home Ministry statement said the portal had been designed to provide appropriate protection to sensitive witnesses. It added that people could keep their identities secret and confidential if they wished. The committee has asked affected people and other relevant parties to use the prescribed formats to submit their complaints or statements.
The process is also open to people who do not want to submit information online. Complaints can be delivered at the HPEC office at Shiksha Sadan, 17, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi 110002, on working days between 2 pm and 4 pm. Submissions can also be sent by post to the same address or emailed to hpec2026.enquiry@nic.in.
The portal follows allegations surrounding the deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force’s Rapid Action Force during the July protests under the command of Delhi Police. The report said protesters and other groups had alleged that pellet guns were used against demonstrators. Pellet guns had been classified alongside tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke grenades as crowd-control weapons in the RAF’s manual, according to the report.
The use of pellet guns against student protesters was criticised by opposition parties, students and experts, the report said. It also described the incident as the first reported use of pellet guns in New Delhi, after their earlier use in Jammu and Kashmir. The HPEC’s next step will be to receive and examine complaints, statements and supporting material through the portal and the other submission channels.
