1 day ago
Supreme Court Quashes Student Protest FIRs, CJP Withdraws March
The Supreme Court closed criminal cases connected to student protests held from July 20 to 25.
The protests were about alleged exam paper leaks and other demands from young people.
The court used a special constitutional power called Article 142.
This power lets it make orders needed to achieve “complete justice.”
The government said it would create a policy to compensate families of students who died by suicide after the NEET-UG exam was cancelled.
The government asked for three months to work out how the compensation would be provided.
The Cockroach Janta Party said the court order and government promises met its demands.
It therefore canceled a planned march in Delhi on September 5.
However, the order does not cover 2,873 people whom Delhi Police says had serious prior criminal cases.
The Supreme Court ordered FIRs linked to student protests from July 20 to 25 to be closed without further investigation.
The three-judge bench invoked Article 142 to provide “complete justice” and address cases filed across several states.
The Centre, Delhi Police, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal and Maharashtra sought relief from the cases.
The court’s order does not cover 2,873 people whom Delhi Police says had prior serious criminal cases.
The Cockroach Janta Party withdrew its September 5 Delhi march after government assurances on the cases and compensation policy.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India, the Centre, Delhi Police, several state governments, and the Cockroach Janta Party led in court by co-convenor Saurav Das.
- What
- The court quashed or closed FIRs connected to the July student protests, while the Cockroach Janta Party canceled its planned September 5 march.
- Where
- The cases involved Delhi, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra and other parts of India; the canceled march was planned from India Gate to Delhi Police headquarters.
- When
- The order and march withdrawal were announced on Tuesday, September 1; the specified protests took place from July 20 to July 25.
- Why
- The protests concerned alleged examination-paper leaks, demands to withdraw punitive action against protesters, and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after the NEET-UG cancellation.
Cockroach Janta Party and Protesters
Government and Police Authorities
Withdrawal of criminal cases
Cockroach Janta Party and Protesters
The CJP said students’ futures should not be harmed by FIRs or police action and demanded that cases against protesters be withdrawn, with no future punitive action.
Government and Police Authorities
The Centre and several state governments sought the quashing of the FIRs, while Delhi Police sought permission to register a fresh FIR against 2,873 people it said had serious prior criminal records.
Compensation for families
Cockroach Janta Party and Protesters
The campaign demanded compensation for families of students who died by suicide after the NEET-UG cancellation, seeking an honourable amount and payment within 90 days.
Government and Police Authorities
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government was committed to compensation but requested three months to establish the policy and its implementation details.
Reason for canceling the march
Cockroach Janta Party and Protesters
The CJP said it withdrew its September 5 march because the government’s assurances had received judicial recognition through the Supreme Court’s order.
Government and Police Authorities
The government’s assurances and the court proceedings led to the march being canceled, but the CJP said it would monitor compliance with the order.
Key facts
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Legal basis
- Article 142 of the Constitution, used to provide “complete justice”
- Protest period covered
- July 20 to July 25
- Applications for relief
- The Centre, Delhi Police, and the governments of Bihar, Assam, West Bengal and Maharashtra
- State FIR figures
- Bihar sought to quash 69 FIRs, Maharashtra 34, West Bengal eight and Assam five
- Delhi exception
- The order does not apply to 2,873 people whom Delhi Police says had prior serious criminal cases
- Compensation assurance
- The Centre said it would formulate a comprehensive policy and requested three months to work out the modalities
Quotes
Saurav Das
Co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party
“There were two demands from us, including compensation for the families whose children died by suicide due to the NEET paper leak and an assurance that the FIRs filed against protesters, youth, and students across the country would be withdrawn”
thehansindia.com
“I want to declare that we are calling off our peaceful protest march scheduled for September 5 from India Gate to the new Police Headquarters because the government has accepted all our demands.”
thehansindia.com
Chief Justice Kant
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who issued the ruling on the protesters’ FIRs
“Keeping in view the future prospects of the young protesters who came to participate in a peaceful protest to raise their voice in support of certain demands, we deem it appropriate to invoke our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution in order to do complete justice between the parties.”
telegraphindia.com
“Any other FIR registered with regard to the said protests between July 20-25 in any of the States or UTs, which are before this court, they shall not be pursued and will be treated as closed.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
SC quashes FIRs on student protesters, CJP calls off September 5 march in Delhi - Telegraph India
Supreme Court quashes student protest FIRs, directs no further investigation
'Couldn't let their futures get affected': CJP's Saurav Das after SC quashes FIRs against student protesters
Supreme Court Quashes All FIRs Against Cockroach Janta Party Protesters, CJP Withdraws September 5 March Call
CJP calls off September 5 march as SC quashes FIRs linked to youth protests
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