SC quashes FIRs against student protesters

The Supreme Court has dismissed several first information reports (FIRs) against student protesters in Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Assam, who were involved in a recent protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over examination paper leaks. The three-member bench, consisting of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana, invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to quash the criminal cases.

The court observed that participating in a peaceful protest does not constitute an offence. The bench also directed that similar FIRs in other states and Union Territories, except the five mentioned states, should not be pursued or investigated. The central and state governments had moved applications seeking the quashing of these criminal cases.

The court emphasized the future prospects of the young protesters, stating that their participation in the peaceful protest was commendable. The CJP decided to withdraw its call for a march on September 5, following the quashing of FIRs. The Centre assured the court that no fresh FIRs would be registered for the same incidents, and a policy for compensation payment would be formulated within three months.

However, the court allowed prosecution against 2,873 individuals in Delhi with serious criminal antecedents, focusing only on offences involving bodily harm or destruction of property.