Supreme Court quashes FIRs against protesting students
Supreme Court provides significant relief to protesting students.
Protesting students have received significant relief from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has quashed all FIRs filed against protesting students involved in the nationwide movement related to NEET 2026. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court annulled several FIRs registered by the police in Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Assam in connection with the recent protests led by the Cockroach People's Party (CJP) regarding various education-related issues, including paper leaks.
According to a report by Bar and Bench, the bench comprising Chief Justice (CJI) Suryakant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana exercised its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution while considering the applications filed by the central and respective state governments to quash the criminal cases.
The court also directed that no action would be taken and no investigation would proceed regarding similar FIRs registered in other states and Union Territories apart from Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Assam. This means that these cases will be considered closed for all intents and purposes.
The court stated,
“Keeping in mind the future of the young protesters who participated in peaceful demonstrations to voice their demands, we find it appropriate to exercise our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure complete justice between the parties.”
The court also directed that no new FIRs would be registered concerning the protests that took place between July 20 and 25.
Meanwhile, the Cockroach People's Party withdrew its call for the proposed march on September 5 on Tuesday. This decision was taken after the central government expressed agreement to withdraw the cases filed against student protesters.
The Supreme Court further ordered that families of students who committed suicide in connection with NEET 2026 cases should be compensated within three months. An all-India policy will be formulated in accordance with the assurances given by the central government to the CJP leadership. The apex court is hearing several petitions related to the CJP protests, including a case of alleged excessive use of force against protesters in Delhi and Bihar.
On Monday, the central government filed an application requesting the Supreme Court to quash 13 FIRs registered by the Delhi police between July 20 and 25. However, the central government also stated that, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) database,
“proceedings will continue against 2,873 individuals from Delhi with serious criminal backgrounds.” Investigations against these individuals will be limited to charges of causing bodily harm or property destruction.
The government proposed to register a new and consolidated FIR against these individuals. The court granted permission to the Delhi police to register such an FIR.
The court said, “Such FIRs may be registered, but the affected parties will retain the right to pursue legal remedies available under the law. The FIRs will be limited to the two types of charges mentioned in Article 4—bodily harm and property destruction.”
During the hearing in the Supreme Court, CJP co-convener Saurav Das stated,
“Considering the positive assurances received from the government, the judicial recognition received today, and the orders being passed by this court, CJP finds it appropriate to withdraw the call for the march on September 5. We hope that today’s order will be complied with.”
Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central and Delhi police, informed the Supreme Court that the central government is committed to fulfilling all three assurances given in the meeting with the CJP leadership.
The first assurance was that the central government would not take further action on the FIRs registered between July 20 and 25.
The second assurance was that no new FIRs would be registered in connection with this matter.
The third assurance was that the government would compensate the families of students who allegedly committed suicide in connection with the NEET paper leak circumstances.
Mehta told the court, “For now, we are committed to fulfilling all three assurances.”
It is noteworthy that during the NEET movement, heavy security action was witnessed on July 20 during the Parliament march when protesters attempted to move from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament. Security personnel resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas shells. Pellet guns were also used during this time, resulting in injuries to several protesters.