Supreme Court Quashes FIRs Filed Against NEET UG Protesters Across India

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court has ordered the quashing of First Information Reports (FIRs) filed across the country against demonstrators who took part in the NEET UG paper leak protests.

The decision was welcomed on Tuesday by Ratna Singh, lead of the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) legal team, who termed the apex court's ruling a historic legal victory achieved through sustained legal advocacy.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Singh stated that the legal team and its members had been working continuously following assurances given earlier in the year. Singh noted that promises were made on July 25, and the team remained committed to pursuing those assurances until the court delivered its decision.

Singh emphasised that the demonstrations had been conducted peacefully on behalf of the nation's youth and maintained that the movement would remain peaceful. The quashing of the cases is expected to bring substantial relief to students across various states whose academic and professional futures were threatened by pending criminal cases.

According to Singh, the order will ensure that FIRs against protesters are nullified across states, with hopes expressed that all state governments will implement the ruling accordingly.

While the Supreme Court directed the dismissal of general protest-related FIRs, legal representatives noted an exception in the ruling. Proceedings will continue against 2,873 individuals who were identified using facial recognition software for allegedly engaging in acts of violence during the demonstrations.