Supreme Court Quashes FIRs Against Students Who Joined Jantar Mantar Protests; CJP Calls Off September 5 March

PTI, September 1, 2026, New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed all FIRs registered against students who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party-led protests between July 20 to 25 across the country, prompting the group to call off its September 5 march in the national capital.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also directed the Centre to provide within three months compensation to families of students who ended their lives over the NEET paper leak.

Closing the criminal proceedings against the protestors, the bench said: "Keeping in view the future prospects of the young protestors, we invoke our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do complete justice."

Article 142 empowers the apex court to pass any orders to do complete justice.

Acceding to the Centre's request, the apex court, however, permitted Delhi Police to register fresh FIRs against 2,873 individuals with serious criminal antecedents who were present in the Jantar Mantar protest.

The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and widened the ambit of its order.

CJP co-convenor Saurav Das appeared before the bench and read out a statement on behalf of the group.

"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. I also thank the Court for this decision and the learned counsel on both sides, Ms Vrinda Grover and the Solicitor General, for their efforts," Das said.