CJP cancels September 5 protest march after Supreme Court quashes FIRs against protestors in Delhi, other States

The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed several first information reports (FIRs) registered by police in Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam in connection with the recent agitation led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over academic issues including paper leaks.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to quash the criminal cases after the Central government and respective governments moved applications to seek quashing of the cases.

The Court also directed that similar FIRs in other States and Union Territories – other than Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam - shall not be pursued or investigated, meaning they shall be considered closed for all intents and purposes.

"Keeping in view the future prospects of the young protesters who came to participate in a peaceful protest to raise their voice in support of certain demands, we deem it appropriate to invoke our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution in order to do complete justice between the parties," the Court said.

The Court also directed that no fresh FIRs shall be registered with regard to the protests that took place between July 20 and 25.

It further ordered that compensation be paid within three months to the families of students who committed suicide in connection with NEET 2026 after formulation of a pan-India policy, in accordance with the assurances made by Central government to the CJP leadership.

The top court has been hearing a batch of petitions related to CJP protests, including the use of excessive force against protestors in Delhi and Bihar.

In an application filed in the matter on Monday, the Central government urged the Supreme Court to quash 13 FIRs registered between July 20 and 25 by Delhi Police.

However, the Union government also said that it will continue prosecution against 2,873 individuals in Delhi with "serious criminal antecedents" as per the National Crime Records Bureau database. The investigation will be limited to offences of bodily harm or destruction of property.

It proposed registration of a single, fresh FIR against those persons. The Court today gave a liberty to the Delhi Police to lodge such an FIR.

"Such an FIR can be registered without prejudice to the rights of the affected parties to seek remedies available to them in law, and strictly confined to the two categories of allegations referred to in paragraph 4, namely, bodily harm and destruction of property," the Court said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today told the Court that the Central government had assured the CJP leadership that the police in Delhi and other States would not pursue the FIRs registered in connection with the protests that took place between July 20 to 25, 2026.

Mehta added that the government stands committed to other assurances, including compensation for kin of students who committed suicide in connection with academic issues, including the NEET examination.

However, Mehta said three months would be required to work out necessary modalities in this regard. The Court today directed that a nationwide policy be framed in consultation with State governments.

"The Government of India shall formulate a policy with respect to payment of compensation on a pan-India basis. Such policy shall be circulated to all the State Governments concerned and implementing authorities, so that it can be adopted as a regular mechanism for payment of compensation. As regards the students who committed suicide in connection with NEET 2026, compensation shall be paid to the affected families after formulation of the policy. The policy shall be formulated within a period of three months," the Court directed.

Mehta also urged the Court to quash cases registered by States other than Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam.

Further, Mehta informed the Court that since there was an apprehension of government not fulfilling its assurances, the CJP leadership had called for a protests march in Delhi on September 5.

Soon after Mehta made the submission, CJP co-convener Saurav Das read a statement before the Court stating that the call for protest march on September 5 stands withdrawn in wake of the assurances given by Solicitor General.

"As co-convener of the CJP, I want to state that in view of the positive assurances of the Government of India and the judicial sanctity bestowed upon them today, and in view of the order being passed by this Court, the CJP deems it appropriate to withdraw the call for the march on September 5 and looks forward to compliance with today's order," Das said.

CJI Kant appreciated the stand taken by the CJP.

"If both sides show good faith, then all issues can be resolved one by one. There is nothing in the world which is too complicated that it cannot be discussed with an open mind," Justice Kant said.

The Court clarified that order quashing the FIRs was being passed in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case and shall not be treated as a binding precedent.

"We make it clear that the invocation of the extraordinary powers of this Court under Article 142 of the Constitution is subject to the condition that both sides shall abide by the understanding arrived at before this Court," it added.

Senior Advocate N Hariharan and advocate Vrinda Grover also made submissions before the Court.

[Read Live Coverage]