The Supreme Court will hear today, September 1, Delhi Police’s plea seeking to cancel 13 FIRs registered against students who protested in New Delhi against the NEET paper leak. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had made this request.
The police has also sought permission to register fresh FIRs to investigate the role of 2,873 people who were present during the protests.
A bench comprising CJI Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana had on Tuesday approved the urgent hearing of the case. The bench said it had no objection if the parties were reaching an agreement among themselves.
SG Mehta said, “We want to file an IA (Interlocutory Application). It is related to the protests and seeks the cancellation of the FIRs. We are invoking Article 142 of the Constitution.”
The application states that, in accordance with the Centre’s 25 July decision, Delhi Police does not want to pursue the 13 FIRs related to the Cockroach Janata Party protests.
Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijit Deepke has announced a march to Delhi on September 5.
Delhi Police claims over 2,800 criminals identified
The Delhi Police said in its application that, according to NCRB records, some people with criminal backgrounds were present at the protest site. The police want to investigate whether any of them were involved in violence or damage to property.
The police said it only wants permission to register a fresh FIR against these 2,873 people. The FIR will be investigated based on the prescribed definition of a ‘criminal background’.
The police said a fresh FIR would not normally be registered. However, considering public interest and the special circumstances of the case, it has sought the court’s permission under Article 142 of the Constitution. It has also sought the cancellation of the earlier FIRs.
The police also told the court that its decision should be limited to the circumstances of this case and should not be treated as a precedent in future cases.
CJP calls for another march in Delhi on Teachers’ Day
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced another protest march in Delhi in September. The organisation alleges that the central government has not fulfilled the promises made to end the agitation on 25 July.
According to the CJP, the march will be held on 5 September Teachers’ Day. It will be led by families of students who died by suicide after the NEET exam was cancelled and a re-examination was conducted.
Families of students who alleged police excesses during the July agitation will also participate in the march.
Supreme Court’s earlier action on NEET protests
The Supreme Court had earlier formed a high-powered committee headed by former judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy. The committee was tasked with investigating protests held across the country against the NEET-UG paper leak and allegations of police excesses against students.
On 3 August, while ordering the release of students, the Supreme Court clarified the meaning of ‘criminal background’. The court said it would include only those involved in serious and heinous offences. FIRs registered against other students could be closed or withdrawn by state governments in accordance with the law.
The clarification came after the Centre said it did not want to pursue FIRs against students who had protested against the NEET paper leak. This included students who marched towards Parliament in Delhi on 20 July, provided they had no criminal record.
Clash between protesters and security personnel on 20 July
During a march led by the CJP in Delhi on 20 July, protesters clashed with security personnel. Security forces used lathi-charge and tear gas to stop the crowd from moving towards Parliament.
The students’ agitation subsequently spread to several cities. Their main demand was the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The agitation had begun at Jantar Mantar on 20 June. It ended on 25 July after Pradhan’s resignation and the government agreeing to the CJP’s other demands.
