Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das celebrate with party supporters as Supreme Court quashes all FIRs across country against students who participated in NEET protests, in New Delhi on Tuesday
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The Supreme Court, at the urging of the central government, took a rare and extraordinary step on Tuesday to quash the criminal cases registered against Gen Z protestors involved in nationwide protests linked to the Cockroach Janta Party following the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leaks.A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant exercised its absolute powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do “complete justice” and ensured that the “FIRs will not be investigated and will be closed for all intents and purposes.”The court clarified that the order was not confined to Delhi but extended to states and union territories that witnessed the protests. The court stated that the Centre would be at liberty to ensure that states or union territories did not register any fresh FIRs regarding the CJP protests held between July 20 and July 25. Kerala, represented by advocate Aljo Joseph, appreciated the court’s decision, stating that student protests in the state did not encounter violence from the police.The Bench, however, allowed the Delhi Police to file a “fresh and specific” FIR against 2,873 individuals with criminal antecedents who were spotted by facial recognition technology at the central Delhi protest site. The court stated that the FIRs should not prejudice their rights and that the individuals should be given every opportunity to defend themselves.It further directed the Centre to frame a pan-India policy for compensating the families of students who took their own lives following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leaks and make the payments within three months thereafter.The hour-long hearing ended with a general round of bonhomie, as Chief Justice Kant light-heartedly remarked, “All of us have seen student life.” The CJI’s oral remarks about ‘cockroaches’ and ‘parasites’ in the same courtroom had sparked the advent of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).The CJI, after pronouncing the order, advised that students must “concentrate on careers to establish and create a space in a competitive world.” The court said it chose to invoke Article 142, primarily keeping in mind the “future prospects of the young protestors.”“As an institution, we are thankful that a constructive environment has been created that will help youngsters. All the best wishes,” Chief Justice Kant gave expression to an air of satisfaction prevalent in the courtroom.The hearing witnessed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, join petitioners’ lawyers, senior advocate N. Hariharan and advocate Vrinda Grover, to press for a ‘John Doe’ order banning States from registering any fresh cases linked to CJP protests.Four BJP-ruled States of Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar and West Bengal filed separate applications requesting the court to use Article 142 to quash the FIRs. The States’ applications were "verbatim" to that of the Delhi Police, Mehta said.The CJP co-convenor Saurav Das, who was present in the courtroom, was invited to come to the front row to address the Bench.Das read out a statement from his mobile phone. He said that “in view of the positive assurances of the Government of India [to close the FIRs] and the judicial sanctity bestowed upon them today… the CJP deems it appropriate to withdraw the call for the march on September 5 and looks forward to compliance with today’s order”.During the pronouncement of the order, the court asked him to share the statement to be included in the order. Mehta offered to get a printout from his own chambers in the court. Das said the statement was couched in “Gen Z lingo” and thanked the court for the “historic” order.The turnaround began on August 31, when the Delhi Police rushed to the Supreme Court shortly after the CJI Bench refused to halt the CJP march ahead of the BRICS summit, due on September 12-13.With the spectre of a CJP march on September 5 and only a few days to spare for the BRICS summit, the Delhi Police had said it did not wish to pursue the FIRs.The FIRs were registered after a brutal police crackdown on July 20, in which tear gas and pellet guns were deployed against fleeing students. The FIRs accused the young protestors of offences including rioting, attempt to murder and damage to public property.Published on September 1, 2026
