NEW DELHI: In a major legal relief for thousands of student demonstrators, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday quashed all First Information Reports (FIRs) registered across the country against protesters linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant passed the landmark ruling while hearing joint petitions filed by the Central Government alongside state governments including Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal, urging the court to exercise its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to bring an end to criminal proceedings arising from the July paper-leak agitations. Following the verdict, the CJP announced the immediate cancellation of its planned nationwide march scheduled for September 5.
The apex court’s order effectively provides nationwide immunity to student activists, scrapping all FIRs registered during the demonstrations between July 20 and July 25 in Delhi and other states while strictly barring law enforcement agencies from lodging fresh cases related to those events. As a sole exception, the bench permitted Delhi Police to continue proceedings under a single consolidated FIR targeting a group of 2,873 individuals who possess documented histories of serious criminal antecedents. Additionally, the court directed the Union Government to formulate a pan-India policy within three months to provide structured financial compensation to the families of students who died by suicide during the recent NEET examination crisis.
Addressing the court immediately after the ruling, CJP co-convenor Saurav Das confirmed that the party would stand down from its call to march on Delhi Police headquarters on September 5, citing the positive assurances offered by the Union Government and the legal sanctity provided by the Supreme Court’s intervention. Expressing gratitude to the bench and legal counsel, the party’s announcement brings a formal end to months of legal uncertainty for thousands of student protesters following widespread public outcry over national exam paper leaks earlier this year.
