GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, September 1, ordered that FIRs registered across the country over student protests held between July 20 and July 25 should not be pursued or investigated and must be treated as closed.
ALSO READ: 65-Year-Old Woman Dies After Boulder Falls on House in Guwahati’s Kalitakuchi
The court also quashed FIRs related to the student protests that were specifically mentioned in applications filed by the Centre through Delhi Police and the governments of Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Assam.
Invoking its inherent powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to “do complete justice”, the Supreme Court ordered that all FIRs related to the July student protests be scrapped.
The development came after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) earlier announced its decision to withdraw its planned protest on September 5. The decision followed appeals by the Centre and four states seeking the quashing of cases against people who participated in protests over the alleged paper leak.
However, the Supreme Court said the Centre and Delhi Police would remain at liberty to register fresh FIRs against 2,873 persons named in their application. The affected individuals will retain the right to seek legal remedy against any such action.
The court said its decision to invoke Article 142 was based on commitments made before it by the Centre and some states, as well as a statement read out by the CJP co-convenor.
The bench also took into consideration the future prospects of young protesters who had “bona fide” participated in peaceful protests.