India's Supreme Court today quashed all First Information Reports (FIRs) filed nationwide against students who participated in the NEET protests, following a request from the central government. This decision prompted the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) to withdraw its call for a large-scale protest march scheduled for September 5, which was intended to press demands related to alleged NEET exam irregularities and the government's unfulfilled promises.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, reiterated the government's commitment to three key assurances made to CJP leaders. These assurances included not pursuing FIRs registered between July 20 and July 25, refraining from filing any new FIRs concerning the matter, and providing compensation to the families of students who died by suicide allegedly linked to the NEET paper leak. Mehta stated that modalities for the compensation would be finalized within three months.
The CJP had initially called off a 36-day agitation on July 25 after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the government promised compensation and FIR withdrawals. However, the party later accused the Centre of delaying the withdrawal of FIRs and reneging on its commitments, leading to the renewed call for the September 5 march. The Delhi Police had separately sought permission from the Supreme Court to quash 13 specific FIRs, including 10 with attempt-to-murder charges, which were lodged after the July 20 violence during student protests, while also seeking to register a fresh FIR against 2,873 individuals with serious criminal antecedents.
