Supreme Court quashes NEET protest FIRs, orders compensation scheme
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the quashing of all first information reports (FIRs) registered in connection with the NEET-UG protests between July 20 and July 25, exercising its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. The decision comes amid nationwide demonstrations triggered by the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) over paper leaks.
As the bench assembled to hear the Delhi Police’s application seeking the court’s plenary powers under Article 142, Saurav Das of the Cockroach Janta Party informed Chief Justice of India Surya Kant that the outfit had decided to call off its planned September 5 protest march. Mr. Das said the decision was taken after the Centre provided assurances regarding the withdrawal of FIRs and compensation to victims.
The bench then heard Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who urged the court to close all FIRs against NEET protesters registered between July 20 and July 25 across the country. Mehta reiterated the Centre’s commitment to honour the assurance given to protest leaders, including providing compensation to the families of students who died after the cancellation of the exam.
The court directed the quashing of all relevant FIRs registered during that period. It further stated that any other FIRs related to incidents between those dates in other states or union territories—including those not formally brought before the court—shall not be investigated and shall be closed for all intents and purposes. The bench also allowed the Centre liberty to ask states and union territories not to register fresh FIRs in connection with the protests.
In a separate order, the court permitted the Delhi Police to file fresh FIRs against 2,873 individuals without prejudice to the rights of these individuals. This suggests that while the original protest-related FIRs are quashed, specific cases of alleged wrongdoing may still be pursued, subject to legal safeguards.
Addressing the issue of injuries sustained during police action, the court directed the Centre to formulate a compensation scheme for protesters injured in police action. Once finalised, this scheme would be adopted by states and union territories as a regular mechanism for compensating individuals harmed in similar situations. The Centre is also expected to pay compensation to the families of students who died, within three months, with modalities to be worked out.
The Supreme Court had earlier constituted a high-powered enquiry committee headed by former judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy to investigate issues and allegations, including police excesses against students during the nationwide protests. The committee’s findings will inform future legal and policy decisions related to the handling of mass demonstrations.
Tuesday’s ruling marks a significant legal intervention aimed at de-escalating tensions surrounding the NEET-UG controversy. By quashing FIRs and directing compensation, the court has sought to balance accountability with the need for social harmony. However, the allowance for fresh FIRs against specific individuals indicates that the legal process for addressing any serious offences remains open. The situation continues to evolve, with the Centre expected to finalise the compensation framework in the coming months.
