Supreme Court opens door for withdrawal of FIRs against student protestors
Supreme Court clarifies eligibility for withdrawal of criminal cases against student protesters, allowing states to close FIRs without serious offenses.
The Supreme Court has clarified its previous order, stating that it does not prevent governments from withdrawing criminal cases against student protesters. The court emphasized that only those with "grave and heinous" criminal antecedents would be exempt from the protective umbrella granted last week. The decision was welcomed by the Cockroach Janta Party, and its spokesperson Saurav Das hailed it as a major victory for the youth.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta reiterated the government's commitment to withdrawing cases against eligible protesters, while senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that the earlier direction was being misinterpreted as an impediment to the withdrawal process. The court clarified that states have the liberty to close or withdraw cases in accordance with the law, and that the phrase "criminal antecedents" referred only to severe offences.
The bench also expressed concern over the potential impact on the future of students, urging both parties to work together to identify cases that could be withdrawn or closed without undue legal burden. The court is also considering the use of pellet guns during protests and has scheduled a further hearing on August 18.
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