SC directs Delhi Police to quash FIRs against all CJP protestors excluding those with criminal antecedents
In a big relief to the students who participated in the CJP protest on July 20 at Jantar Mantar, the Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed all FIRs filed against them between July 20 and August 5, except those with criminal antecedents. The court has directed that all cases filed against these students in all states and Union Territories be quashed. Following the decision, the CJP has called off its proposed September 5 march in Delhi.
The court order stemmed from the Centre’s assurance that the cases filed against protesters regarding the July 20 protests will be withdrawn and that no new cases will be filed in the future regarding the same protests.
However, the Delhi Police has been allowed to maintain the FIRs against 2873 individuals who were present at the Jantar Mantar protests as they had serious criminal antecedents.
Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta told the apex court that the Centre and the states of Bihar, Assam, West Bengal and Maharashtra had filed applications seeking to quash the FIRs linked to the students’ protests and assured that no future FIRs would be registered in respect of these protests against the students.
Mehta also said that the applications had been filed to honour the assurances made by the Centre to the CJP leaders during their meeting on July 25.
During the court hearing, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said that the issue can be sorted out if both sides talk to each other with trust. Mehta, in response, said that both sides have approached the matter constructively and positively. “We are not enemies,” he added.
Appreciating the Centre’s response, Das told the court, “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.”
The Solicitor General further went on to say that the Centre was committed to honour the assurances given to the families of the students who died by suicide following the cancellation of the NEET-UG exams and sought three months to work out the compensation modalities.
Granting the Centre three months to complete the compensation modalities, the court directed the Centre to take necessary action.
Meanwhile, the CJP, which had called for a protest on September 5, accusing the Centre of not fulfilling its commitments on withdrawing cases against the students and compensation, has called off its protest.