A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant heard plea highlighting incidents of attacks, harassment, and discriminatory treatment faced by persons from the Northeast across educational institutions in the country.

During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner submitted that students from the Northeast frequently face targeted hostility, while bystanders remain passive. He emphasised the need for institutional grievance-redressal mechanisms in educational institutions, stating that such incidents are a lived reality for many students.

Taking note of the submissions, the CJI observed that the plea raises vital questions regarding the need for specific provisions in penal laws to prevent group-based violence on grounds such as race, place of birth, language, and appearance, factors expressly prohibited as hostile grounds of discrimination under the Constitution. The Court also noted that the petition sought interim guidelines, on the lines of the Vishaka framework, until appropriate legislation is enacted.

The Bench was of the view that the issues raised required consideration at the policy level. It therefore directed that the matter be brought before the competent authority through the good offices of the Attorney General for India.

Disposing of the plea, the Court granted liberty to the petitioner to hand over a soft copy of the petition, along with a copy of the order, to the office of the Attorney General for India to enable appropriate consideration before the authority concerned.