NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed all first information reports registered across the country in connection with nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak issue. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana invoked extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure that criminal cases do not derail the futures of participating students. The court declared that mere participation in a peaceful demonstration cannot be treated as an offense under penal laws.
Judicial representatives affirmed that all FIRs filed between July 20 and July 25 will stand closed across states and Union territories without further investigation. “No further FIR shall be registered in relation to the same incident,” the bench directed, following joint applications submitted by the central government and state administrations. Union officials confirmed to the court that the government remains fully committed to withdrawing protest-related cases and providing financial compensation to families of students who died by suicide.
Legal counsels noted that the court carved out a specific exception for 2,837 individuals identified by law enforcement as having serious prior criminal records. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that while genuine student protesters deserve full protection, authorities must retain the ability to investigate individuals with grave antecedents who were present at demonstration sites. The bench agreed to examine the cases of those specific individuals separately to determine if any played a direct role in property damage or violence.
Following the judicial order and government assurances, protest organizers withdrew their call for a planned march in Delhi. Legal observers maintained that the ruling establishes a clear distinction between bona fide democratic assembly and unlawful agitation, providing vital relief to thousands of young citizens across the nation.
