Top court quashes FIRs against Gen Z protesters

Top court quashes FIRs against Gen Z protesters

The Supreme Court, at the urging of the Centre, took a rare and extraordinary step on Tuesday to quash criminal cases registered against Gen Z protesters involved in nationwide stir linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) 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 ensure that the first information reports (FIRs) over the protests “will not be investigated, and will be closed for all intents and purposes”.

The court clarified its order was not confined to Delhi, but extended to all States and Union Territories where protests took place.

This came after a volte-face from the Delhi Police, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry. Faced with the spectre of a CJP march on September 5, just days ahead of a high-profile BRICS summit in the National Capital, the Delhi Police told the court on August 31 that it did not wish to pursue the FIRs. Following Tuesday’s decision, the CJP announced it was withdrawing its call for the march.

CJP co-convener Saurav Das, who was present in the court room and was invited to address the Bench, noted the “positive assurances” of the government and the “judicial sanctity bestowed upon them” and said that the CJP looked forward to compliance with the “historic” order.

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 Jantar Mantar protest site in central Delhi. The court said the FIRs should not prejudice their rights, and they should be given every opportunity to defend themselves.