In line with the promises made by the Centre, the Delhi government on Thursday maintained that no legal action will be taken against those arrested in connection with the recently held protests in regards to the NEET question paper leak at Jantar Mantar on 20th July. However, it asserted that the declaration will not apply to people already having a ‘criminal record’ in line with the Supreme Court’s July 28 order, the government added.
As per the notice issued by the Delhi police in the evening, 13 registered cases in connection with the protests have been highlighted.
“We stand with the students, and it is in that spirit that we issued this order,” said Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood. “Our government has honoured its commitment to them. However, if any anti-social elements with criminal antecedents used the student protest as an opportunity to spread violence, action will be taken against them,” he added.
The arrests were made when protesters clashed with the police during the ‘Jeepi Chalo Sansad’ march from Jantar Mantar to the Parliament. Subsequently, the police had made arrests and filed cases with the help of CCTV footages from the day.
An outrage spread over the alleged use of excessive forces like pellet guns on protesters. Following the days-long protest, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down, which was one of the main demand of the protests amongst the other in demanding education.
Two days after the protests were called off, CJP officials highlighted that there had been no move to drop the police cases and warned that the government, if failed to follow on its promises, would witness another mass protest.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered states not to take coercive action against the protesters and release those with no prior criminal record.