Supreme Court Invokes Article 142 to Quash Nationwide FIRs Against NEET-UG Protesters

In a significant relief for thousands of students and young activists across India, the Supreme Court has exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to quash all First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against protesters in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 examination controversy. The order, delivered by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, terminates police cases filed over student demonstrations held between July 20 and July 25. The ruling came after the Union Government informed the top court that authorities would not pursue cases against peaceful student demonstrators. The court observed that participating in a peaceful protest per se does not constitute a criminal offense, emphasizing the need to safeguard the academic futures and careers of young citizens who demonstrated in good faith. However, the bench clarified that law enforcement agencies retain the liberty to investigate specific individuals with criminal antecedents involved in acts of bodily harm or property destruction. Following the top court's directions, student organizations that had spearheaded the nationwide protests over alleged paper leaks formally called off planned demonstrations in New Delhi. Furthermore, the Centre pledged to establish a structured compensation framework for families of students affected by the examination turmoil. The decision balances public order with constitutional rights, removing legal hurdles for young aspirants while establishing clear boundaries for law enforcement during widespread public demonstrations.