2 days ago
Centre Seeks Supreme Court Quashing of NEET Protest FIRs
The government has asked India’s highest court to cancel police cases against students who protested over alleged NEET paper leaks.
It wants the court to use a special power called Article 142.
The court has agreed to consider the request, and several reports say the hearing will be on September 1.
The request concerns protest-related cases where students are not accused of serious crimes.
Cases involving allegations such as rape, murder or POCSO offences are intended to continue.
The protests included a July 20 march in Delhi, during which police used tear gas and lathis after clashes.
A group called the Cockroach Janata Party says the government has not kept promises to withdraw cases or help some families.
The group plans another Delhi march on September 5.
The Centre and Delhi Police have asked the Supreme Court to quash FIRs against students involved in NEET paper-leak protests.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to invoke Article 142 to provide complete justice.
The court agreed to hear the application, with reports identifying September 1 as the hearing date.
Authorities want to exclude protesters accused of grave offences; reported figures differ between 2,700 and 2,873 people.
The Cockroach Janata Party plans a September 5 march, alleging that promised case withdrawals and financial aid remain unfulfilled.
- Who
- The Centre, Delhi Police, the Supreme Court, NEET protesters, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and the Cockroach Janata Party are involved.
- What
- The Centre and Delhi Police are seeking the quashing of eligible FIRs against students who joined protests over alleged NEET paper leaks.
- Where
- The FIRs concern protests in Delhi and other states, including demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and a march toward Parliament.
- When
- The application was mentioned on Monday; several reports say the hearing is scheduled for September 1, while one report did not specify a date. The CJP has announced a march for September 5.
- Why
- The government cites complete justice and public or national interest, while the protest group says promised case withdrawals and financial assistance have not been delivered.
Government and Court Intervention
Protesters and Affected Families
Withdrawal of FIRs
Government and Court Intervention
The Centre and Delhi Police say eligible protest-related FIRs should be quashed under Article 142, while cases involving grave offences should continue.
Protesters and Affected Families
The Cockroach Janata Party says the government promised to withdraw cases against protesters but has not fulfilled that commitment.
Handling of Protest Violence
Government and Court Intervention
Police reported stone-pelting and alleged vandalism during the July 20 march and used tear gas and lathis to disperse demonstrators.
Protesters and Affected Families
Reports say the use of tear gas and lathis was widely criticised, while protesters and families allege police excesses during the July agitation.
Support for Families
Government and Court Intervention
The government’s reported July 25 commitments included financial assistance for families of NEET students who died by suicide.
Protesters and Affected Families
The Cockroach Janata Party says the promised financial assistance has not yet been provided.
Key facts
- Constitutional provision
- Article 142 permits the Supreme Court to issue orders needed to provide complete justice.
- Requested action
- The Centre and Delhi Police want eligible FIRs against NEET protesters quashed.
- Delhi FIRs
- Delhi Police said it sought quashing of 13 FIRs registered between July 20 and July 25.
- Serious-offence exclusions
- The proposed action would not cover people accused of grave or heinous offences, including rape, murder and POCSO cases.
- Reported excluded-case figures
- Reports cite different figures: approximately 2,700 FIRs in one account and 2,873 people with serious criminal cases in another.
- Upcoming hearing
- Several reports state that the Supreme Court will hear the application on September 1; another says no date was specified.
- Planned protest
- The Cockroach Janata Party has announced a September 5 march from India Gate toward Delhi Police headquarters.
- Court inquiry
- The Supreme Court constituted a committee headed by retired Justice R. Subhash Reddy to examine alleged violence and police excesses during the protests.
Quotes
Chief Justice Surya Kant
Chief Justice of India and head of the bench hearing the related petition.
“It is a question of the life and future of innocent students. Even if they have staged protests… they have legitimate expectations from the system. Let us not forget their right under Article 19 (right to free speech and expression)... As long as they don’t violate the law and protest peacefully, we have to distinguish these cases from hardened criminals.”
telegraphindia.com
“As of now, we will presume, and we have no reason to doubt, that everybody will act and behave in a very responsible manner and in a peaceful and lawful manner. So right now, there is no compelling circumstance for us to presume anything wrong will happen”
telegraphindia.com
indianexpress.com
Sources
Centre urges SC to invoke Article 142 for ‘complete justice’, quash FIRs against NEET protesters
SC To Hear Centre's Plea To Quash FIRs Against NEET Protesters
SC to take up plea to quash student FIRs over NEET paper leak protests at Jantar Mantar
Delhi Police asks Supreme Court to quash FIRs against NEET protesters, cites national interest
Centre Moves Supreme Court to Quash FIRs Against NEET Paper Leak Protesters
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