Team Goemkarponn
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all states not to take any coercive action against students who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana ruled that while the police may register First Information Reports (FIRs), no coercive steps should be taken against the protesters for the time being.
The Court also ordered the release of all detained students who have no previous criminal record. However, it excluded individuals with criminal antecedents from the relief and did not specify what action, if any, could be taken against them.
The directions came while the Bench was hearing a batch of petitions alleging excessive use of force by police during protests that began at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and later spread to Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, West Bengal and Kerala.
The petitions claimed that students protesting the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak were subjected to lathi charges, pellet guns, tear gas and electric weapons, allegedly violating their fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, 20 and 21 of the Constitution.
Observing that the allegations prima facie warrant an independent and impartial probe, the Supreme Court directed authorities to preserve all CCTV footage, drone recordings, body-camera videos, wireless communications and Police Control Room (PCR) records related to the protests nationwide.
The Court further directed that the digital data of protesters be preserved and not released in the public domain, adding that no personal details or identities of protesters should be published.
The Bench also directed the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) concerned to remain present at the next hearing scheduled for August 3, when the matter will be taken up again.
